Critically acclaimed "Paan Singh Tomar" was named the best feature film of 2012 in the 60th National Film Awards announced here Monday.

The Tigmanshu Dhulia-directorial even won the best actor's trophy for Irrfan, who essayed the role of a national level athlete who went on to become one of the most dreaded dacoits of Chambal Valley.

The best actor's trophy is shared by Vikram Gokhale for Marathi film "Anumati", while the best actress honour went to Usha Jadhav for her performance in "Dhag", also in Marathi.

The prestigious awards for 2012 were announced by filmmakers Basu Chatterjee, Aruna Raje and Swapan Mullick.

In the feature film category, a total of 38 films from 14 languages have been selected for the awards.

Hindi film "Chittagong" and Malayalam movie "101 Chodiyangal" have shared the Indira Gandhi Award for the best debut film of a director. The award for the best popular film for providing wholesome entertainment has been shared by Bollywood movie "Vicky Donor" and Malayalam project "Ustad Hotel".


The best director accolades are for Shivaji Lotan Patil for Marathi film "Dhag".

The award for the best supporting actor has been conferred on Annu Kapoor for the film "Vicky Donor", and Dolly Ahluwalia has won the best supporting actress for the same film. She shares the award with Kalpana for Malayalam film "Thanichallanjan".

In the best child artist category, there is a tie between Virendra Pratap for Hindi film "Dekh Indian Circus" and Minon for "101 Chodiyangal".

The music category saw ace composer Shankar Mahadevan gets the best male playback singer award for the song "Bolo na" from the film "Chittagong". The award for the best female playback singer was conferred on Samhita for the song "Palakein naa moon don" from the Marathi film "Aarti Anklekartikekar".


The award for the best screenplay writer (original) has gone to Sujoy Ghosh for "Kahaani", while in the adapted screenplay the honour has been given to Bhavesh Mandalia and Shri Umesh Shukla for the film "OMG: Oh My God!".

Anjali Menon's dialogues in Malayalam film "Ustad Hotel" have won her a National Award, and the best lyrics award has gone to Prasoon Joshi for the song "Bolo na" from the film "Chittagong".

A special jury award has been conferred on Rituparno Ghosh for Bengali film "Chitrangadha" and to Nawazuddin Siddiqui for the films "Kahaani", "Gangs of Wasseypur", "Dekh Indian Circus" and "Talaash".


The award for the best choreography has been conferred on Birju Maharaj for the Tamil film "Vishwaroopam".

Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra won a special mention for her performance in "Ishaqzaade" for her convincing delineation of a daredevil girl, and so did Tannishtha Chatterjee for "Dekh Indian Circus".

Namrata Rao 'overjoyed' at National Award for 'Kahaani'

Namrata Rao is very overwhelmed to win the National Award for the best editor for "Kahaani".


"I am very glad. It is very overwhelming. This is for the first time I have ever got a National Award. It is a great feeling I can't put in words. All I can say is thank you. This was unexpected. I am very happy," Rao told soon after she got the news.

Rao, 32, is one of the youngest editors in Bollywood, and she had earlier bagged the best editing statuette at Filmfare, Zee Cine Awards and Colors Screen Awards for "Kahaani", a Kolkata-based woman-centric thriller.

Directed by Sujoy Ghosh, the film starred Vidya Balan in the lead role.

National Award scares me: Parineeti Chopra


After winning a special mention for her performance in "Ishaqzaade" at the announcement of the 60th National Film Awards here, young and vivacious actress Parineeti Chopra says she is scared but motivated to keep giving better shots in the film industry.

"After winning so many debut awards, I never thought I would win for 'Ishaqzaade', but when I did, it was the biggest one in the country! That too for my first lead role," Parineeti said in a statement.

"I just cannot believe it. But this scares and humbles me, and will definitely make me work even harder in the future! Thank you jury," she added.

Parineeti, cousin of National Award-winning actress Priyanka Chopra, made her Bollywood debut with "Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl", in which she played one of three supporting actresses.

"Ishaqzaade" saw her in the lead opposite debutant Arjun Kapoor. She has won the special mention for her convincing delineation of a daredevil girl in a moving drama of love and tragedy.

Shoojit Sircar breaks into 'sperm dance' at National Awards


Director Shoojit Sircar is "ecstatic" after his film "Vicky Donor" ended up pocketing three National Awards, including the best film providing wholesome entertainment. He says he broke into a "sperm dance" as soon as he heard the news.

The film narrated the story of a boy who ends up becoming a sperm donor for quick money. With its unique theme, the director never expected the film to win such an award.

"When I heard the news on TV, I did a sperm dance. Also, I was jumping and thumping," an elated Sircar told over phone from Hyderabad.

"I am ecstatic and happy that film like 'Vicky Donor', that is based on the story of a sperm donor, has won a popular award. It gives the feeling that this taboo of sperm donation in not there anymore and people are appreciating such cinema," he added.

"Vicky Donor" shared the best popular film for providing wholesome entertainment with Malayalam project "Ustad Hotel".

The movie was not just the production debut of Bollywood star John Abraham, but also marked the foray of video jockey Ayushmann Khurrana in the world of acting. It also won the best supporting actor award for Anu Kapoor, and the best supporting actress award for Dolly Ahluwalia.

"This was a film with no big star. I am happy for Anu Kapoor and Dolly Ahluwalia and my congratulations to the writer Juhi Chaturvedi, who did an excellent job," he added.

So was he expecting National Award during the making of the film?

"I knew that Anu Kapoor will get it. It is a socially relevant film because of the topic, but I never thought it will become a popular film," he added.

I credit 'Vicky Donor' team for National Awards: Abraham


Little did anyone know that a story about a sperm donor could become a hit at the box office and find critical acclaim too. But John Abraham's debut production "Vicky Donor", starring a debutant, pulled it off and that too with three National Awards.

"I am very happy that 'Vicky Donor' has managed to win so much recognition at the National Awards. I credit my entire team for the film's success. We won it for wholesome entertainment, and it couldn't get better. To be recognised nationally is a great feeling," John told over phone from Hyderabad.

The movie, which featured video jockey-turned-actor Ayushmann Khurrana in the lead, was named the best film providing wholesome entertainment, at the announcement of the 60th National Film Awards here. It also won the best supporting actor and supporting actress awards for Annu Kapoor and Dolly Ahluwalia, respectively.