Rajnikant set for best actor?

Shobha Warrier in Madras

It is not very uncommon for a film which wins a National Award to be ignored at the state level. It has happened in Kerala several times and created controversies.

In Tamil Nadu, it has become a routine that whenever a film of Rajnikant is released, his film gets the best film award and he gets the best actor award.

It is childish to question the decisions of the award committee yet a question that haunts anyone who likes good films is, can anyone compare the debutant director Bala's film, Sethu and the out and out loud, commercial film, Padayappa?

Sethu was adjudged best Tamil film by the National Award committee. But the state judging committee found Padayappa a better film.

Sethu, a well-made film, was one of the biggest surprises of 1999.

Padayappa was expected to do well, which it did.

Generally, the state and national level awards are given to films that are artistically and cinematically good, irrespective of the film's commercial success. Anyway, Bala can take consolation in that he was adjudged the Best Director award even though his film did not win an award. It is surprising that the award did not go to the director of Padayappa, K S Ravi Kumar!

Even the popular Filmfare award went to Bala and his film, Sethu.

Anybody who has seen Sethu will vouch that Vikram had given an amazing performance in the film. It is also said that he lost to Mohanlal at the national level by a whisker.

At the state level, although he didn't have to compete with Mohanlal, he lost the award to Rajnikant for his performance in Padayappa.

Again, perhaps to console Vikram, the state government has given a special award to him.

The best actress award went to Simran for her role in the film Thullatha Manamum Thullum. Raghuvaran won the best villain award for Mudhalvan and Iraniyan.

Ramya Krishnan also got a special award for her fiery performance in Padayappa.

A R Rahman and Vairamuthu win the best music director and best lyricist award and S Janaki the best female singer award for the umpteenth time. For Srinivas, the best male playback singer award is the first one.

The awards will be presented on January 12.