Buddhadeb Dasgupta's Bengali-language Kaalpurush – Memories in the Mist, the story of a mild-mannered office clerk (Rahul Bose) whose faltering career is counterbalanced by his wife's sudden celebrity, received best feature film honors at the 53rd National Film Awards, covering Indian films produced in 2005.
The 53rd edition of the National Film Awards became mired in controversy last year after film critic Shyamli Banerjee filed a petition in the Delhi High Court stating that the awards were rigged by government officials. Banerjee also stated that Black should be ineligible for any National Film Award, as it is an adaptation of The Miracle Worker — according to the rules, adaptations are automatically disqualified.
Another petition, this one filed by documentary filmmaker Anand Patwardhan at the Mumbai High Court, challenged the National Film Awards regulations banning from the competition films without a censor certificate.
Despite Banerjee's efforts, Amitabh Bachchan was voted best actor for his performance in Black. Other winners include best actress Sarika for Parzania and Rakesh Omprakash Mehra's political-coming-of-age-musical Rang De Basanti, which was voted best popular film. (The National Film Awards are filled with quirky categories, such as "best film on environment conservation" and "best film on family welfare.")
Tamil Film Sringaram has won three National awards. Lalgudi Jayaramn for music, Madhu Ambat for cinematography and Saroj Khan for choreography. A beautiful film fabulously directed by Sharada Ramanathan it is being released in Chennai on the 21st of September 2007.
A must see film!