A host of city based artistes were elated as the National films awards announced in the capital featured them in various categories that included best actor, best playback singer, best dialogue writer, best biographical documentary, as well as best make-up man in addition to the best film award shared by `Deool` with the Kannad `Byari`.
Since the landmark Marathi film `Shyamchi Aai`, made by the legendary Acharya Atre won the President`s gold medal in 1954 and the honour was repeated with `Shwaas` bagging the top award in 2004, this year`s all round and collective achievements for the Marathi film industry has been exceptional.
Girish Kulkarni who won the best actor award for his performance in `Deool` -- which revolves around the theme of man and religion with the dimension of globalisation---- said, "It is a great honour for Marathi film making and the team that produced Deool".
Interestingly, Kulkarni has also won the award for best dialogues that he penned for `Deool` which he treasures more.
Reacting to the dual honour, he said, "Getting an award for dialogue writing is more important for me as this has also bestowed an honour on Marathi language in addition to the film and I am proud of this achievement. So far as the acting is concerned, I still regard myself as a student learning continuously."
For the `Deool` director, Umesh Kulkarni, the success at the national level is a "collective achievement of the new breed of Marathi film directors and artistes".
Talking about the films which was widely publicised through social networking sites, Kulkarni said, "the film which has already completed 100 days of screening in Maharashtra, will attract a wider audience outside the state with the national award," adding that the regional film with its diverse themes deserved a country-wide exposure.
The producer of `Deool` Abhijit Gholap who is an IT professional said he would be making two more films that would match the creativity of `Deool` and hoped that the audience would support the endeavour aimed at boosting Marathi film industry.
Another city-based artiste who made his mark is vocalist Anand Bhate, a disciple of late Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, who lent his voice for the film "Balgandharva" for the first time and won the national award for the best playback singer.
The film, a biopic, depicts the life and times of legendary Marathi stage singer `Balgandharva` known for his melodious classical renderings.
Reacting to the award, Bhate said, "we had a passion for the music of Balgandharva and I am happy that through the film we could take his legend to the young generation of Marathi film goers."
Vikram Gaikwad, who won the best make-up artist award for both `Dirty Picture` and `Balgandharva` gushed, "I am especially happy because both the characters -- Silk Smita portrayed by Vidya Balan and that of Balgandharva -- are contrasting ones which makes the achievement more satisfying."
Among other award winning performances from the city is the documentary titled `Bol Patancha Mooknayak` which portrays the life of Vishnupant Damle, one of the founder members of erstwhile famous `Prabhat` film company which made trend setting movies in its studios here, now housing the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). The documentary won the best biographical/historical reconstruction award in the non-fiction category.