Southern film industry bags 18 National Film Awards

Chennai April 7 (IANS) Southern films figured prominently at the 64th National Film Awards announced on Friday with Pellichoopulu Puli Murugan Joker and 24 bagging top honours.

The six industries of the south -- Tamil Telugu Malayalam Kannada Tulu and Konkani -- bagged a total of 18 awards.

In Tamil filmdom critically-acclaimed political satire Joker actor Suriya-starrer science-fiction thriller 24 and Dharmadurai bagged a total of six awards.

Raju Murugan-directed Joker bagged Best Tamil Film and Best Playback Singer for Sundara Iyer.

24 pocketed awards for Best Production Design for Amit Ray and Subratra Chakraborty Best Cinematography for Tirru and Best Visual Effects.

Veteran lyricist Vairamuthu won his seventh National Award for the song Endha pakkam from Vijay Sethupathi-starrer Dharmadurai.

Telugu industry bagged a total of three awards.

Indie romantic-drama Pellichoopulu was awarded the Best Film in the language while Shatamanam Bhavati bagged the Best Popular Film award for providing wholesome entertainment.

Raju Sundaram bagged the Best Choreographer award for NTR-starrer Janatha Garage.

Malayalam industry bagged five awards including Best Film for Mahesinte Prathikaram and Best Actress for Surabhi C.M. for her film Minnaminungu - The Firefly.

Adhish Praveen won Best Child Artist for Kunju Daivam.

Peter Hein bagged an award for Best Stunt Choreography introduced for the first time for Puli Murugan.

Superstar Mohanlal won a Special Jury award for his performances in films such as AAPuli Murugan Janatha Garage and Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol.

While Kannada industry bagged two awards Konkani and Tulu industries pocketed an award each.

Best Kannada Film award went to Reservation while Bapu Padmanabha won the Best Music Director award for the film Allama.

Madipu won the award for Best Tulu film and K Sera Sera- Ghodpachem Ghoddtelem was awarded the Best Konkani film.

--IANS
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