When Nikhil Manjoo’s Reservation bagged the Rajat Kamal for the best Kannada film at 64th National Awards there were many eyebrows raised in the film industry.
“In India, caste has historical, social and contemporary context and nuance,” says Nikhil. “One cannot justify it nor can one make value judgements on it. Reservation has multiple layers and diversities within the pan-Indian context.”
Nikhil is not new to the awards scene. His films have won 13 Karnataka State Film Awards. However, Reservation got him his first national recognition. He has made seven films including Prashne, Bhavanegala Benneri, Ondooralli, Oorvashi, Last Page and Hajj .
Nikhil says juries might have been impressed with Reservation , as it elaborates on the effect and repercussions of the reservation policy.
Hajj, which won the Best Kannada film award at the Bengaluru International Film Festival also deals with social issues. It focuses on how the world today has taken on bitter hues with caste, creed and colour taking prominence. “The essence of humanity is lost and Hajj attempts to enlighten.”
About the National Award, Nikhil says, “I had expectations. But considering the competition in Kannada section I was slightly apprehensive as well. My previous film, Hajj, narrowly missed National award last year. There were over 60 Kannada films in the competition, as against previous years average of 30. I am happy and dedicate the award to my mother.”
A sense of history
Though it failed to get Karnataka State Film awards, T.S. Nagabharana’s Allama won awards for music and make up. Allama’s win is the second time a Kannada film has been honoured for make-up. Two years ago make up artistes Raju and Nagaraj, created history by winning the award for Best Make Up at the 62nd National Film Awards for their work in Naanu Avanalla Avalu directed by B.S. Lingadevaru.
N.K. Ramakrishna got the award for the Best Make Up for Allama . The award came as a boon to Kannada film industry, because Ramakrishna was planning retire but the award has given him cause to reconsider his decision. Lauding Ramakrishna’s work, juries observed that; “The film gives a sense of a historical figure and time through the art and craft of make up.”
Ramakrishna was surprised when the award was announced. “I was shocked on learning about the award. I did not expect it. However, I confess, it was a challenge to offer an authentic look to the three phases of Allama’s life.”
Bapu Padmanabha got the award for Best Music direction for Allama . The film is about the 12th century mystic-saint and Vachana poet, who propagated unitary consciousness of Self and God.
The film, was nominated as India's entry for the International Council for Film, Television and Audio-visual Communication of UNESCO.
When asked what prompted him to make a film on the Vachana mystic, Nagabharana said, “though Allama is a major Vachana poet, his philosophy is not meant for a particular region. Allama was beyond region and religion and that is why he is now a global figure. He gave importance to moral values and love for mankind.”
Bapu Padmanabha, who composed music for Allama, is a musician and composer who performs Hindustani classical music on his bansuri. Allama is Padmanabha’s debut feature. He studied over 800 Vachanas with the director before settling for 18 for the movie. Creating a spiritual soul to the Vachanas through music was a major challenge he faced. The music occupies about 40 minutes of the total length of the film. According to juries, the award is “for adding soul to the film through Carnatic ragas.”
“It was a challenge to compose music without distorting the literary and philosophical tone and tenor of 12th century Vachanas. I intentionally used only Indian instruments to compose music. I am happy the jury understood the efforts invested,” Padmanabha said adding that now he has greater responsibility to promote music, culture and heritage of the land in the days to come.
