Film on 1984 wins National Award

JALANDHAR: Punjab 1984, which was adjudged the Best Punjabi Film at 62nd National Awards, is all about family relationships in the backdrop of terrorism, police brutality and communal riots. The film, which takes a look at the aftermath of the riots, is the first Punjabi film on the theme to get the award.
"We dedicate the award to those mothers of Punjab who are still waiting for their sons," said film director Anurag Singh while speaking to TOI on Tuesday evening."It has vindicated our faith that hard work gets commercial and critical success when one tries to touch a sensitive subject," he added.
Starring Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh and Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher, the film was the biggest ever revenue grosser Punjabi film before Char Sahibzade came on the scene.
Earlier, Gulzar directed Maachis (Hindi), which was also a big commercial hit, depicted the turbulent period of Punjab. It had won the National Film Aware for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and Shonali Basu directed Amu, woven around 1984 anti-Sikh riots, received National Film Award: Best Feature Film in English.
Gurbir Singh Sidhu of White Hill Productions, who produced the film, said this award was not only a matter of great satisfaction for the team but also a big motivation for the now resurgent Punjabi film industry. "Moreover, it proves that there is scope for commercial and critical success if one works on serious subjects also," he said.
"It was a dream project for us three, including director Anurag Singh and Diljit. Our hard work has got both commercial and critical success," he said. The film had grossed around Rs 30 crores and received huge response in Punjab and abroad.
Dolly Ahluwalia wins Best Costume award for 'Haider'
Chandigarh: Chandigarh-based Dolly Ahluwalia has bagged the National Award for Best Costume for her Hindi film 'Haider'. She said the news came as a happy surprise from her director Vishal Bhardwaj on Tuesday. She had earlier won the National Award in the same category for 1993 film 'Bandit Queen' and for the best supporting actress for 2013 film 'Vicky Donor'.
Ahluwalia said she just got a month to prepare for 'Haider', set in the 1990s. "The only blessing in disguise was that I was not supposed to design for the entire film in one go, but one season at a time. However, the hitch therein was that I still had to conceive the character in its entirety," she told TOI.
Ahluwalia said working with director Vishal Bhardwaj made it easy though. "He gives lots of creative space and a creative language, which helps you translate the story into costumes and characters," she said.