Cheran's films win national awards

It's celebration time for director-actor Cheran. He has won two awards at the 53rd National Film Awards for 2005 announced on August 7. "Thavamai Thavamirundhu, which Cheran directed and acted in, was adjudged the best film on Family Welfare. It dwelt on the values of a joint family system.

"Aadum Koothu, which Cheran produced and acted in, was declared the best film in the "regional" category. It is the first time that two of his films have won the National Awards in the same year. "Thavamai Thavamirundhu" is the first Tamil film in 20 years to win the best film award in the "family" category after "Samsaram Adhu Minsaram".

Cheran had expected the best director award for him and the best actor award for Raj Kiran who played his father in "Thavamai..." That they could not make it is a disappointment to Cheran. The award for "Aadum Koothu" was no surprise for him as he had made the film with the aim of winning awards. Navya Nair had played three different roles in the film and had done a 'wonderful job'. Cheran expected her to win in the "best actress category" but here again he was disappointed.

Violin maestro Lalgudi Jayaraman won the award for "best music direction" in the film "Sringaram" which was directed by Sharada Ramanathan. (The film is scheduled to be released on Sept.14). The subject of this movie was dance, and dance is interlined with classical music. So, for Lalgudi, it made sense to work with Sharada as a music director. Another achievement for "Sringaram" was that its cinematographer, Madhu Ambat bagged the award for best cinematography. Saroj Khan also won the national award for best choreography for this movie.

The Special Effects Award went to Tata Elexi for the Tamil film "Anniyan".