Malayalam Cinema wins 9 national awards.

1. Best Feature Film Award :- ‘Pulijanmam’
Director :Priyanandhanan
Producer : MG Vijayan,

2. Best Actress :- Priyamani (Considering she is a Malayali,Eventhough she won the national award for her role in the Tamil film 'Paruthi Veeran’)

3.Indira Gandhi Award for the Best First Film of a Director :- Madhu Kaithapran ('Ekantham’),

4. Best film based on a plot of national integration :- Major Ravi ( Keerthy Chakra)

5. Best family film with a message :- Kamal ( Karutha Pakshikal )

6. Special award for acting :- Thilakan ( ‘Ekantham’)

7. Best narration :- Nedumudi Venu

8. Best in film criticism :- G P Ramachandran

9. Best non feature film :- Anthyam .

M P Sukumaran Nair's 'Drishtaantham’ won the award for the best regional film in Malayalam.
Athor Major winners

Bengali film star Soumitra Chatterjee was adjudged as the Best Actor.
Rajkumar Hirani's 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' won the award for the Best Popular Film.

Amitabh on Kamal

Last Updated: April 30, 2008 08:56:02

When asked to comment on Kamal Haasan's work, at Dasavathaaram's (also refered to as Dasavatharam, Dasavataram) audio launch held on April 25th, 2008, Amitabh Bachchan heaped praises on him. It was very nice to see someone as big as Cinema itself coming down and complimenting the multi-talented 'kamaal' star with his words. And all that praise was well-deserved. Kamal Haasan is truly a magician who knows how to capture the hearts of the audience. Amitabh Bachchan said that Kamal Haasan is a living example to all of us, an epitome of perfection. He said that he was very pleasantly surprised when he saw the trailer. He also added that every year, Kamal Haasan springs up a new surprise, a new experiment that no one but only he can do. He is the only one who can do this and continue to amaze us. Here are Amitabh's words: "He is an example to all of us. Whatever he does, he does it to perfection. When I saw the trailer, I was astonished. It was very nice and grand. I was totally taken in. He is the only one who can acomplish this. Every year, he brings us new surprises. He does new experiments all the time that no one else other than him can do. Though we keep trying to do astonishing things like this, we are unable to do it. But he does it with elan. It looks very nice on the screen. After seeing the trailer, I want to see more of this movie. And it arouses a wish to work with Kamal Haasan. It would be such a pleasant experience."

He also added that he had worked on 'one-and-a-half' movies with Kamal Haasan, referring to the movie Giraftar and another movie, which was not completed. Giraftar was an exciting film in which the three stalwarts of Indian Cinema worked together - Amitabh, Rajinikanth and Kamal Hasaan.

Then Kamal Hasaan replied in his own humble manner. "I always have been a fan and admirer of Amitabh Sir. I have seen his movie Deewar so many times. He is such an inspiration to lakhs of people. I never thought that one day I would hear these words of praise from him. I never had an idea that I would share the stage with him. It is too nice and good to believe. It feels very great to be praised by someone whom you see as an legend and inspiration. I am not able to believe that all this is happening. But I want stay calm, enjoy all that he has to say about me at the moment and bask in his compliments. I want to live this moment in which he has said so many nice things about me. It is unbelievable. I am very happy."

He also added that Amitabh Bachchan fills the place of Sivaji Ganesan. He wished him good health and long life and wanted him to guide Tamil filmdom.

@2008 Galatta.com

Namitha - Snowball 2008 Brand Ambassador

Galatta.com

Last Updated: April 29, 2008 23:58:03

Hot, hot Namitha has been chosen as the brand ambassador for a cool, cool event. Snowball 2008, organised by Spellbound and Swathy Ads in association with Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, will be held at Island Grounds from May 1st to June 1st, 2008. This extravaganza will allow Chennaites to beat the summer heat in an air conditioned area of 70000 sft with 15000 sft of snow! This unique place will also have a food court, a gaming zone for kids, a 100-seater theatre for screening the latest movies, shows by prominent singers like Anuradha Sriram, Shankar Mahadevan, Suchitra, dance performances by movie stars and many more exciting events.

@2008 Galatta.com