‘This is very exciting for AB Corp’

This is your fourth National Award (Saat Hindustani,Agneepath,Black and Paa). Are you keeping a count?
(Laughs) No,I’m not. But yes,four is correct.

This is the second National Award in your 60s. What’s the secret of your drive?
It’s purely coincidental. But yes,due to the age factor I’m able to do different kind of roles. As for the drive,well,one just wants to be at work. I’m grateful that people still want to work with me and design films for me. Of course,the economics are lower and understandably so,which is why when we made Paa,on the first day of the release itself we were in profit.

With regards to Paa,is this award special as this is also AB Corp’s win?
Yes,this is very exciting for our company,which as you know,has seen some very bad times. All credit to Abhishek really. It was his idea to produce the film,he designed it,planned the budget and also acted in it. He gave a very subtle and effective performance in Paa.

Trade analysts had major misgivings about Paa because of your Auro look. Comment.
Yes,people who saw the promos did say that ‘Iss mein to Amitabh hai hi nahin’. We were advised to show ‘my’ face after the film ends — as if I’m taking off a mask so that people know it’s me. But our director,R Balki,was keen to keep Auro as he is. Even when we were promoting the film,I went everywhere as Auro. We kept the promotion low-key. We could have gone to town with Auro,wrung out every emotion from the audience but Balki didn’t want to milk the character.

Today all your directors are your fans. Is it difficult to take instructions from them?
I don’t look at it this way. All directors are stars in their own right. I follow what they ask me to do. I don’t contradict them though we might have discussions.

You’ve reduced your film assignments considerably.
Well,the gap hasn’t been deliberate. There was the multiplex strike and the releases had to be planned in a certain way. Personally,I took some time off as I wanted to spend time with a friend who has been unwell. But now I’m back at work. I’ll start Rajkumar Santoshi’s film next month,then there is Puri Jagannath’s film,Budhha (which means an old man and not Gautam Buddha). There’s also Prakash Jha’s Aarakshan and a project with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s assistant. Of course,there will be Balki’s next too.

Your birthday’s coming up. Any resolutions?
Not really. Why wait for a birthday for a resolution,what is wrong with today? But yes,I’ll be stepping into my 69th year,it’s another year to get back to work.

Your daughter,Shweta,seems to love Twitter. You got her on it. How is it going for you?
Shweta,I think,is in the wrong vocation. She’s a fantastic mimic,a voracious reader and a lovely writer. She should be in the film industry. We keep telling her that but she doesn’t want to do anything. She’s happy being busy with her kids. I’m glad she’s enjoying Twitter. I’m also enjoying it.

Winners of the 57th National Film Awards (Hindi) for 2009

Best actor: Amitabh Bachchan (Paa)

I thank the Government of India and the National Awards committee for this great honour. Paa has bagged four National Awards,including Best Hindi Film,Best Supporting Actress by Arundhati Nag and Best Make-up by Christien Tinsley and Dominie Till and I congratulate all of them for winning this prestigious award. I especially thank R. Balki – a gifted director whose exceptional vision and passion has created this wonderful film,Abhishek,who took complete charge of the project as the producer and Natasha and Dakshina for their valuable assistance on the make-up. Also a big thanks to Reliance for joining hands with us. This is an important success for AB Corp Ltd and the entire cast and crew who have helped make such a brilliant movie.”

Best Hindi Film : Paa (AB Corp Limited)

I am feeling on top of the world,feeling very proud and would like to thank the people and the Government of India for bestowing the Best Actor Award to Paa,Best Supporting Actress to Arundhatiji,Best Make-up and Best Film – Hindi for Paa. We all are very happy and very humbled – Abhishek Bachchan

Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film Of a Director: Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan (Lahore)

I’m extremely happy to receive the National Award. I’m on cloud nine. One’s first film is always close to the heart. And Lahore didn’t quite conform to the norms of the usual Bollywood film. So the award is a reassurance for me that I have taken up the right path and I should continue doing such different films.

Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment – 3 Idiots

Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integrity : Delhi 6

Best film on social issues : Well Done Abba

We are extremely delighted that four films produced and one film released by Reliance BIG Pictures have won an unprecedented 17 National Awards this year. This is an honour and I would like to congratulate the extraordinary talent that has worked with us to make this honour possible – Sanjeev Lamba,CEO,Reliance BIG Pictures

Best Supporting role (Male) : Farooque Shaikh for Lahore

Best Supporting role (Female) : Arundhati Nag for Paa

It feels good to be recognised. Bagging awards for the role of Bum in Paa began with the Screen trophy and whenever it was a jury award,I got it for the film. I am happy to have bagged the National award but if an award doesn’t come my way,I am not disappointed because I am not in the rat-race. I was just lucky to have got a good film,a wonderful role,a great team and to top it,awards for this nice and meaty role. Sadly,such roles are not created today for actors of my age unlike in the West where Meryl Streep and Whoopi Goldberg are still doing wonderful work.

Best Audiography : Subhash Sahoo (Kaminey),Anup Dev (3 Idiots)

It really feels good when your hard work is appreciated and rewarded. It also puts a responsibility on you to keep up the good work. There is that fear that unless you maintain the pace,you are likely to lose the trust of directors. Nevertheless,it works as a great inspiration. Also,this year for the first time,the scrutinising committee has introduced three categories in sound viz: Sync Sound,Sound Design and Sound Mixing,which is good – Subhash Sahoo

Best Production Design : Samir Chanda (Delhi-6)

Most of my favourite works like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Guru went unrecognised,so I had stopped expecting a long time ago. For Guru,I had to create Mumbai of the 1950s in Chennai. It was quite difficult and I never expected that it would go unrecognised. However,I was surprised that I won this year. I got a ‘phone call from my wife telling me so and then I checked on the web. This time I had to create Delhi in Jaipur and I am very happy that my hard work has been recognised.

Best Make-Up Artiste : Christien Tinsley and Dominie Till (Paa)

Best Music Direction: Amit Trivedi (Dev. D)

Best lyrics : Swanand Kirkire (3 Idiots)

I am feeling fantastic! The song was conceived so well as a composition by Shantanu Moitra,Rajkumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra that in fact I was confident of winning the award – this is my second after Bande mein tha dum with the same team in Lage Raho Munna Bhai. I must thank Shantanu in particular because I wrote on his tune and he has been a very strong support throughout my career.”

Special Jury Award : Sreekar Prasad

I am very happy to get the Special Jury Award because this is the first time a technician is being honoured in this way. I have bagged seven National Awards as the Best Editor in the past but to get a Special Award for editing three different genres of films which include a slick thriller,Kaminey,a historical Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja and a story with multiple tracks Kutty Srank is a great feeling.