New Delhi, September 15
Aamir Khan-starrer ‘3 Idiots’ was today adjudged the best popular film providing wholesome entertainment while mega-star Amitabh Bachchan was named the best actor for his performance in ‘Paa’ in the 57th National Film Awards.

‘3 Idiots’ producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Director Raj Kumar Hirani will get Rs 2,00,000 each and a Swarna Kamal for the movie, which touches upon the contemporary concerns of society with great humour and engaging performances. Amitabh’s gets the award for a rare performance that fuses the art and craft of an actor to create a character that leaves a lasting impression on one’s mind.

The awards were announced by chairpersons of the juries for feature films, non-feature films and film writing here today. The awards will be given away later at a function.

However, it was the Malayalam film "Kutty Srank" which bagged five awards, including the best feature film.

"Kutty Srank", with Mammoothy in the lead, also won awards for best cinematography, best screenplay, best costume and a special jury recognition, which it shared with Bollywood hit "Kaminey" and Malayalam film "Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja".

Raykesh Omprakash Mehra's "Delhi 6", shot in the bylanes of Old Delhi, bagged the Nargis Dutt award for best feature film on national integration while Shyam Benegal's "Well Done Abba" was chosen as the best film on social issues.

R Balki's "Paa", was also named the best Hindi film, besides winning recognitions in the best supporting actress category (Arundhuti Nag) and best make-up (Christein Tinsley and Dominie Till).

Amit Trivedi got the best music director award for Anurag Kashyap's "Dev-D", a modern take on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's classic "Devdas".

‘Behti hawa sa tha woh’ from “3 Idiots” bagged the best lyrics award for Swanand Kirkere.

Ananya Chatterjee was named the best actress for her role in the Bengali film “Abohoman”, which also fetched the best direction award for Rituparno Ghosh and best editing for Arghyakamal Mitra, besides being adjudged the best Bengali movie.

Farooq Sheikh was named the best supporting actor for his role in Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan’s “Lahore”, which also won the ‘Indira Gandhi Award for best debut film.

Rupam Islam was chosen as the best male playback singer for his rendering of ‘Kolakata’ in the Bengali film “Mahanagar” while the best female playback was awarded to Nilanjana Sarkar for another Bengali movie “Houseful”.

While producer Reliance Big Picture and Director Shaji N Karun of “Kutty Srank” will get the Swarna Kamal and Rs 2,50,000 each, the producer and director of “3 Idiots” — Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Raj Kumar Hirani — would get the Swarna Kamal and Rs 2,00,000 each.

Bachchan would get a Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000.

The best children’s film award was shared by “Putaani Party” in Kannada and “Keshu” in Malayalam. Jeeva and Anba Karaus share the best child actor award.Telegu film “Magadheera” bagged awards for special effects and choreography.

Well known music director Ilayaraja got the award for best background score for “Kerala Verma Pazasi Raja”.The Best audiography award was shared by Oscar winner Resool Pookutty for “Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja’, Subash Sahoo (location sound) for “Kaminey” and Anup Dev (re-recordist of the final missed track) for “3 Idiots”.