The Hindu : Dev Anand charms young and old

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 30, 2003

Entertainment

Entertainment - Cinema

Dev Anand charms young and old

By Our Staff Reporter

Dev Anand performing for his fans before receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2003 from the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, at the 50th National Film Awards 2003 at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday. — Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

NEW DELHI DEC. 29. His signature swagger still in place, Dev Anand was the toast of the 50th National Film Awards function here on Monday when he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.

On an evening that saw the celluloid world's best artistes rub shoulders, it was the Hindi film industry's eternal optimist who walked away with a standing ovation from young and old alike. Setting the mood for the award was the screening of some of the songs and scenes from the actor's films, which had the audience applauding and asking for more.

Describing the film industry as one that can create happiness in society, the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, urged it to lift people's spirits by portraying the dream of a developed India.

"I am very happy to be here today and give awards to all of you, especially because you can show happiness as well as create happiness out of sorrow. We are a country of a billion with nearly 260 million people below the poverty line. You have to lift them up by spirit, courage and determination,'' he told the artistes.

Bollywood actor, Ajay Devgan collected his second Rajat Kamal award for his performance in the film `The Legend of Shaheed Bhagat Singh,' which also won the best Hindi film award. Actress Konkana Sen shared the limelight with her mother Aparna Sen, with both of them winning awards at this year's function.

While the film `Mr. and Mrs. Iyer' directed by Aparna Sen walked away with the best director, best screenplay awards as well the Nargis Dutt Award for the best film on national integration, Konkana Sen won the best actress award for her strong portrayal of a Tamil Brahmin woman caught between an orthodox mindset and human compassion.

The evening saw Bengali cinema walk away with a major share of the awards, winning as it did the honour of the best film, director, actress, screenplay and debut film.

While filmmaker Buddha Dasgupta's `Mondo Meyer Upakhyan' won the best film award in the feature film segment, his biographical work on painter Manjeet Bawa — `Meeting Manjit' — fetched him the best biographical film award.

Having won many awards for his tragedy `Devdas,' Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus received as many as five awards in the category of best popular film providing wholesome entertainment, best costume, best choreography, art direction and female playback singer.

Rakhee, now rarely seen in Hindi cinema, won the best actress award for her portrayal of an unlikely detective in Rituparno Ghosh's `Shubho Muhurat,' while Tamil actor Chandrashekhar received the Rajat Kamal for the best supporting actor for his portrayal of a physically challenged man in the film `Nanba Nanba.'

Acclaimed Tamil director Mani Ratnam's film `Kannathil Muthamittal' won the best music, best Tamil film and best editing award. They may have done films in different languages, but sharing the same platform to receive the award for best child artist were Shweta Prasad and Keertana for their spontaneous and lively performance in the films, `Makdee' and `Kannathil Muthamittal.'

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