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`I was almost sure there was a mistake'

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

"But I think my grey hair is the reason why I am counted among senior filmmakers," says Dada Saheb Phalke Award winner Adoor Gopalakrishnan

THE TWO WINNERS: Dada Saheb Phalke Award winner Adoor Gopalakrishnan being greeted by Best Actor Award winner Saif Ali Khan during the 52nd National Film Awards function in New Delhi over the weekend.

NEW DELHI: Images of Big B and King Khan took a back seat as the illustrious Mr. A of Indian cinema took the stage at a felicitation ceremony organised here on Saturday to honour the "first Malayalee" to bag the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award.

Organised by Kerala House and the Malayalee Film Society, Delhi, the ceremony saw the renowned filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan at his wittiest best confessing that he was taken aback when informed of his selection for the award.

"Normally the award is given to someone just before his burial or after retirement. When I heard about my selection, I was almost sure that there was a mistake. But I think maybe my grey hair, which I haven't coloured, is the reason why I am counted among senior filmmakers and considered old enough to be awarded,'' said the filmmaker, adding that he had turned vegetarian and taken up yoga to improve his memory.

"I need that," he asserted.

"When my friends heard that I had bagged the award they asked me, `Will this award change you, Adoor? Hopefully you are old enough to not allow things like this to effect you.' Well, what can I say? I am thrilled to get the award," said Adoor.

"For me this award is a recognition of cinema of a different kind. But I refuse to accept myself as a filmmaker who doesn't make mainstream films. I am very particular about my releases and am personally involved in the advertising, promotion and selection of cinema halls where my films would be screened,'' he added.

The filmmaker urged his audience to watch his movies on the big screen.

"People often ask me when my films will be shown on television and I tell them that while I as a filmmaker have a responsibility to give the audience good films, they should pay for a ticket and watch the movie in a theatre where it is meant to be seen and heard. Television doesn't do justice to my films."

Speaking about the popularity of his films back home, the world-renowned filmmaker said: "Some people have this wrong perception that my films are not watched back home. That is far from the truth. Malayalees do watch my films and I have no reasons to complain."

Meanwhile, also present on the occasion to "share the joy with a good friend" was winner of the National Best Director of the Year award, Buddhadeb Das Gupta, who was also felicitated.

Also honoured was the winner of the award for Best Film on Social Issues, Salam Padiyath, for his film `Perumazhakkalam' and winner of the Best Audiography award, Vivek.

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