Magnum opus Baahubali: Best film of the year

Producer on cloud nine
Baahubali producer Shobhu Yarlagadda is on cloud nine! His movie has become the first Telugu film that bagged a national award for best film. “It’s really a big honour, we really happy. It’s also a big acknowledgement for the entire team for their commitment and hard work,” he says.

“We didn’t expect this. There were many other good films for competition; it was a very tough one. Rarely does a commercial film win a National Award. Normally its popular entertainment category or some other category, but this award was for the best film. It came as a pleasant surprise,” he says, adding that the entire team, including director Rajamouli, is very happy about the award.

The epic movie has had such a huge impact on Telugu cinema that the post-Baahubali movies are viewed more seriously and he agrees. “The film has done well in the box-office in Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam. It has opened a new horizon and now other people are looking at the Telugu cinema more seriously. There are more expectations now. The film has created a new market, especially in North India,” says Shobhu.

About Kanche winning the award for the best regional language film, he says it belongs to a different genre. Shobhu feels after Baahubali’s success, Telugu filmmakers are coming up with different and innovative ideas. “We need not change the commercial format, which aims at a bigger section of audience. I hope this award will give other filmmakers and producers courage and encouragement to try something different,” he concludes.

Kaanche won the Best Regional Language Film

Krish dedicates Kanche award to World War veterans
Director Krish Jagarlamudi has always come up thought-provoking movies  — right from his debut Gamyam to the latest Kanche. The director always takes utmost care to focus on a human angle and society’s point of view. Now, his Kanche has won the National Award for the best regional film.

“I am very happy. Kanche gave me a big commercial success and critical acclaim. Now, with this National Award, it gave me a pat on my back. This is a nice encouragement for me for telling different stories. I dedicate this award to the all the World War veterans who fought for a great cause, and the people who are fighting against the caste system,” says Krish.

“From Gamyam to Vedam to Kanche, I have told the story of real people. When I put real lives on screen, I want to get back my money, so I always try to tell it in a commercial way. My films have songs, action and other commercial formats, but in a realistic way. I am happy that Kanche gets money, a National Award and more encouragement to come up with better stories,” says Krish.

When asked about the new heights scaled by Telugu cinema in the recent times, he says that the perception of audience has changed which has opened all these doors.

“We have a great historic culture. There was a lull period where the regular formula kind of films came. These days, we are trying to tell different stories in a cinematic formula; those are really working. If you look at the recent movies, those are following cinematic formula, not the old formula.” says Krish.

Kanche talks about the caste system at the time of World War II, but the film reflects the present scenario in India. “It is very unfortunate that struggles that began long back continues even today. My film says that even if human hatred intensifies, love prevails and hope stays alive,” he signs off.

Celebs on Twitter

Tamannaah Bhatia: National award for best film @BaahubaliMovie congratulations to our lovely team @ssrajamouli @Shobu_ @RanaDaggubati #Prabhas #Anushka

Allari Naresh: #Baahubali makes us proud again by winning the National award for Best Film. Congrats @ssrajamouli sir & team!

Sai Dharam Tej: A real proud moment for all Telugu people.Congratulations to team Bahubali and team kanche. @IAmVarunTej love you ra

Gopi Mohan: Congrats to @ssrajamouli @Shobu_ Baahubali Team 1st time a Telugu movie won the #NationalAward in Best Film category

Vennela Kishore: One of those rare Happy Mondays #ProudMoment #NationalAwards #Baahubali #BestFilm