Percept Picture Company’s 'Kanchivaram' has won the prestigious ‘Best Feature Film Award 2007’ at the 55th National Film Awards, beating films like 'Chak De' and 'Taare Zameen Par'. Actor Prakash Raj has bagged the ‘Best Actor Award 2007’ for his touching performance in the same film. The announcement was made in Delhi yesterday.

 

The film, using Tamil language and grammar of that period, was produced by Percept Picture Company in partnership with Priyadarshan’s Four Frames Pictures.

 

The film has been premiered at various acclaimed international film festivals including Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival, Durban Film Festival, Dubai International Film Festival, Pusan Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival, to name a few.

 

Priyadarshan considers ‘Kanchivaram’ to be the best film of his career. “I have done a lot of movies for the masses. This is my 25th year as a filmmaker, and I made this movie for myself. I am delighted to have received this honour and recognition, when I finally did make a thought-provoking film like Kanchivaram,“ said Priyadarshan.

 

Said Shailendra Singh, Joint Managing Director of Percept, “For me this is nothing less than an Oscar. Movies like this touch a million hearts and are cross-boundary products. At the Toronto Film Festival, this film got a 20-minute standing ovation. There was nothing more humbling than that. Our journey for good content started a long time ago when we made films on social causes like ‘Phir Milenge’. We will continue our endeavour to create good engaging content for the global audience.’’

 

For Prakash Raj this is his fifth National Award and it was truly a proud moment. “It was a winner of a script, and ‘Kanchivaram’ is the reason I respect myself as an actor today. But I am happier for the film which has won the Best Film Award,” said Prakash Raj.

 

Set in the backdrop of Kanchivaram's handloom silk industry from the 1920s to 1948, 'Kanchivaram' is the story of a non-political weaver who leans towards communism and soon becomes a revolutionary leader and an advocate of the ideology, only to find himself caught between personal needs and his pursuit of social equality. The film casts Prakash Raj, Shreya Reddy, Shammu and Jayakumar in the lead. 

 

The National Awards jury was headed by Sai Paranjpe; other members included Ashok Viswanathan and Namita Gokhale. About 102 films and 106 non-feature films were considered for the Awards.

 

Percept Picture Company has been a pioneer in the creation of engaging and stimulating content and has had many achievements during its tenure. Some of them include:

 - 7th Kara Film Festival - Best Film Award  for ‘Firaaq’ (2009)

 - Best Film Award 2008 – Fukouka, Japan for ‘Khuda Kay Liye’ (Sep 2008)

 - National Award - Best Director and Best Make-up for ‘Traffic Signal’ (Jun 2008)

 - FICCI - BAF Awards - Best Animated Feature Film for 'Return of Hanuman' (Mar 2008)

 - FICCI - BAF Awards - Best Mobile Game Content for 'Return of Hanuman' (Mar 2008)

 - Golden Cursor Animation Awards - Best Animation Film for 'Return of Hanuman' (Mar 2008)

 - Golden Cursor Animation Awards - Best Animated Background Score for 'Return of Hanuman' (Mar 2008)

 - Filmfare Powerlist - Rated as the No. 2 corporate player in Bollywood (Feb 2007)

 - IIFA Award – Special Award for 'Hanuman' (Aug 2006)

 - 12th Annual Star Screen Awards – Special Recognition Award for 'Hanuman' (Mar 2006)

 - 7th Osians Cinefan Film Festival  - Special Jury Award for ‘Yahaan’  (2006)

 - 12th Annual Star Screen Awards  - Best Editing & Best Lyrics for ‘Yahaan’ (2006)

 - National Awards - Best Film, Best Screenplay & Best Editing for the Film 'Page 3’ (2005)

 - National Awards - Best Film on National Integration & Best Art Direction for the Film ‘Bose – The Forgotten Hero’ (2005)

 - Stardust Award - The Hottest Film Award for ‘Phir Milenge’ (2005)