Ananya Chatterjee
Best actress for Abohoman

Winning a National Award feels like a new beginning for me! It feels like the first day when I started it all. Once again I feel like a newcomer, all charged up. It’s like I have got a new ambition, a new inspiration. It’s beautiful. Although while doing the film, winning the National Award wasn’t even remotely on my mind. The roles I played in Abohoman — Nati Binodini, Shikha and Srimati — were very complex but while shooting, I had only work on my mind. There were no distractions and perhaps that’s why my effort has been recognised. I had concentrated very hard, I had really worked very hard.

I am yet to understand the impact and significance of this award. All I am doing ever since getting the news is talking to people on the phone, giving interviews, going in for my next shot, coming back and giving more interviews. It’s become very hectic for me. I actually need to sit alone and then perhaps will I realise what it is like. Besides, I haven’t yet been able to talk to Rituda (Rituparno) because his phone is constantly busy. All my colleagues and fellow workers are very proud of me!

Rituparno Ghosh
Best director and Best Bengali film for Abohoman

Winning this award is immaterial to me now because my father is no more. All my awards were meant for Baba and with his passing away, this is a painful experience for me. All the awards that I have received are tucked away in his almirah. But yes, at another level, I am happy that Abohoman has got a National Award; it is my second after Utsab (best director).... Abohoman is one of my favourite films. Among my other favourites would be Bariwali, Shob Charitra Kalponik, Dosar. Chokher Bali, I think, was good in parts, Antarmahal was better. But I haven’t yet made a film that I can be totally proud of.

Arghyakamal Mitra
Best editor for Abohoman

Abohoman is definitely an important film in my career and winning a National Award for this film means a lot though I don’t consider it to be my best work. I have had hopes from other films too. I guess Rituparno Ghosh brings out the best in me because he involves me in his films from the very beginning and he contributes while editing too. I am very emotional about this win because I got the news at FTII Pune, where I was taking a class, and this is where it all began for me as a student many years ago.

rupam islam
Best male playback singer for Mahanagar@Kolkata

The news came as a bit of a shocker. It never ever occurred to me that I could win a National Award. But it does seem big, considering the number of phone calls and congratulatory messages I am getting from all over! I am a little overwhelmed. A lot is happening and very fast. I can’t seem to keep up with the pace of events! The songs of Mahanagar@Kolkata are no doubt very special to me since the film marks my debut in music direction. I think I have, in a way, made a difference in the way Bengali music has evolved. It is a win for Bengali rock.

A moment from Houseful

nilanjana sarkar
Best female playback singer for Houseful

“Nilanjana has a husky tone and a powerful voice, just what we needed for the song Boye jaay shudhu bish in Houseful. It’s a typical jazz and blues composition to go with Bappaditya Bandopadhyay’s (director of Houseful) idea of a live band with a female crooner in restaurants during the Sixties. Bappaditya wrote the song.... Nilanjana has been a radio jockey but we had heard her sing in live shows for corporate programmes and jingles. We’re very happy for her because this is the first time she has done playback for a film,” said Arindam Chatterjee of Bangla band Kaya, which had composed the Boye jaay track.