Biffes 2019: Women-centric film wins award in Asian category

Sivaranjiniyum Innum Sila Pengalum , a Tamil anthology film directed by Vasanth Sai, has been adjudged the Best Film in the Asian category of the 11th Biffes.

The film had a world première at the MAMI Film Festival in Mumabi and the international film festival in Kerala. Sivaranjiniyum is based on women-centric short stories by Ashokmitran, Adhavan and Jeymohan.

Ghode Ko Jalebi Khilane Le Jaa Riya Hoon , produced and directed by Anamika Haksar, bagged two awards — FIPRESCI-International Critics Jury Award and Best Indian Film Award in the Chitrabharathi Indian Cinema Competition category. The film explores the lives of marginalised people and their dreams.

Arup Manna’s film

Aamrityu (The Quest) was selected for the Special Jury Award.

Nathicharami by Manjunatha Somakeshava Reddy (Mansore), a bold take on female desire and sexuality, has been chosen for the Netpac International Jury Prize for Kannada cinema.

Mookajjiya Kanasagalu by P Sheshadri has been adjudged as the first best film in the Kannada Cinema Competition category. This film is based on the magnum opus that won littérateur Shivarama Karanth the Jnanapith award. Incidentally, this year marks 50 years since Karanth wrote

Mookajjiya Kanasagalu .

Savithri Bai Phule by Vishal Raj, a biopic of the reformer and educationist, and Ramana Savari directed by K Shivarudraiah based on a story by K Sadashiva have been chosen as the second and third best films in this section.　

The Kannada blockbuster KGF-Chapter 1 by Prashanth Neel, Sarkari Hiriya Prathamika Shale, Kasaragodu, Koduge Ramanna Rai by Rishab Shetty and Tagaru , directed by Suri starring Shivarajkumar, have been adjudged the best films in the Kannada popular entertainment category.

No lifetime achievement award

Biffes has shelved the lifetime achievement award comprising a purse of ₹10 lakh, citation and a memento, which was instituted last year. Last year, the award was given to renowned film-maker Mani Rathnam. He had returned the prize money to the government and appealed to use the same for helping upcoming directors.