Bollywood News

Eminent filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan could not believe he had been chosen for the 2004 Dadasaheb Phalke award, but disbelief gave way to jubilation as calls poured in.

"Are you sure I have been selected? Because sometime back I received a call from the information and broadcasting ministry asking me if I would accept this award if I was nominated for it," the veteran filmmaker told.

"Then I did not hear anything for a long time."

The multi-award winning director was named Monday for the country's highest honour in the field of cinema.

Gradually coming to terms with the great honour, Adoor, 64, said it was a "pleasant surprise" because he considered himself too young for it.

"I am too young to get this award and it is too early in my life to get this. I am really happy", he commented.

In a career spanning 33 years, Adoor has directed nine feature films beginning with "Swayamvaram" released in 1972, which pioneered the new cinema movement in Kerala.