In poll season in Karnataka, as coincidence would have it, a Kannada film on reservation for women in politics, starring an actor-turned-politician, got the Rajat Kamal at the 65th National Awards for 2017, announced in New Delhi on Friday.

Hebbettu Ramakka, starring BJP MLC Tara Anuradha, which delineates the issue of political reservation for women, got the honours as the Regional Best Film-Kannada. The film depicts how an uneducated woman’s intelligence, dedication and honesty helps in getting justice to oppressed classes in a village.

An elated Nanjunde Gowda, director of Hebbettu Ramakka, said he was expecting an award, as it speaks about a pan-Indian issue, though he is disappointed about Tara not getting an award.

March 22, a Kannada film by Kodlu Ramakrishna on communal harmony, got the award in the Best Lyrics category for the song ‘Muttu Rathna’ by J.M. Prahlad.

The award came as a surprise for Prahlad. “The song with a Sufi touch had turned popular on YouTube. I am happy with the recognition for the song,” he said.

Again, a Tulu language film made it at the national level. Paddayi, a film directed by Abhay Simha and which is about the culture of the fishing community in coastal Karnataka, bagged the Rajat Kamal for languages outside of the 8th Schedule.

The film is a modern-day take on Shakespear’s Macbeth. Director Abhaya Simha had got national honours for his film Gubbachigalu in 2008. Abhay Simha said the film looks at the question of culture, community living and morality in a neo-liberal context.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Benglauru / by Muralidhara Khajane / April 13th, 2018