The day stars took over Delhi sky

NEW DELHI: Actors Amitabh Bachchan, Kangana Ranaut, Kalki Koechlin, directors Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Kabir Khan walked away with top honours at the 63rd National Film Awards on Tuesday. Bachchan, who won for 'Piku', is the only one to have bagged the honour in the 'best actor' category for the fourth time.
Presenting the awards President Pranab Mukherjee said it was sprecial how the National Film Awards recognised “living legends“ like Bachchan as well as newcomers.
Thespian Manoj Kumar, who essayed the role of Bhagat Singh nearly half a century ago, was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke award, Indian cinema's most coveted honour. He in turn presented the President with a Sai Baba statuette while accepting the award to a standing ovation. Kumar started his career in 1957 and is famous for his patriotic roles in films like Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Purab Aur Paschim, and Shaheed, among others.
Describing Kumar's films, I&B minister Arun Jaitley said the actor-director's films played an important part in contextualising Indian history, like the freedom struggle, as well as the plight of farmers.
This is the third National Award for Kangana, who won the 'best actress' honour for 'Tanu Weds Manu Returns'. The multilingual `Baahubali' was recognised as `best film', while Sanjay Leela Bhansali received the 'best direction' award for 'Bajirao Mastani'. The Salman Khan-starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan won 'best popular film'.
The `best Hindi film' award was gi ven to `Dum Laga Ke Haisha', and the special jury award to Kalki Koechlinstarrer Margarita With A Straw.
`Masaan', directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, received the Indira Gandhi award for `best debut film of a director'.