MUMBAI: The 70th National Awards recently took place and director Sooraj won Best Director award for his film Uunchai (2022). He said, “When I started with Uunchai, I was often told that it isn't my kind of film to make. It didn't have lavish sets, big song and dance numbers or celebratory outfits. But Uunchai came from my heart. As a director, I didn't pick the story.Uunchai's story picked me! And today, I thank that story for choosing me. Uunchai gave me my first National Award for Best Director. It's a beautiful journey that me and my film have had that comes to a perfect landing today!”
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On his experience of winning the National Award, Bharjatya said, “I am humbled to be honored amongst the best that the country has seen in cinema during 2022. It takes me back 30 years, when Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994) won the National Award for Best Film. The rush and happiness that I felt as a young director then was crazy! But today, as I get the National Award for Best Director for Uunchai, there is a sense of gratitude and calmness. The joy and happiness are much more internal today. As a director, my job for the last 35 years has been to keep telling stories. And I'm not done yet, there's much more to come!”
He added, “Our National Film Awards unite our industry because they are a celebration of films made in every language. Winning the Best Director, at this stage, makes me feel humbled and honoured to the core. I feel I have truly climbed mt Everest today. This immense recognition belongs to my entire team of senior actors and technicians, who fought the pandemic and shot at unheard locations with me.”
He further said, “Uunchaiwas a special film made in the 75th year of our production house. I would like to dedicate this award to Rajshri Productions and to all my elders in the family, under whom we continue to learn, to tell stories which can be inspiring, happy, and which help us trust each other and the power of goodness.”
Amitabh Bachchan, Boman Irani, Anupam Kher, Danny Denzongpa, Neena Gupta, Sarika, and Parineeti Chopra were among the cast members of Uunchai. It tells the tale of three elderly friends who go to Everest Base Camp in memory of a friend who passed away. Rajshri Productions (P) Ltd., Mahaveer Jain Films, and Boundless Media produced it. The National Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role went to Neena Gupta as well.
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Credit-BollywoodHungama
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