National award a big pat on my shoulder: 'Antaheen' director
Sunday 24 January 2010

Mumbai, Jan 23 (IANS) Bengali film "Antaheen" was declared the best feature film at the 56th National Film Awards announced Saturday.

The film bagged two other honours for Shreya Ghosal and Avit Mukhopadhyay who got the best female playback singer award and the best cinematographer award respectively.

Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, who directed the film, said: "I am extremely happy. I never expected this. Its a big pat on my shoulder. Given such an honour it seems as if you are the best filmmaker of the country," Aniruddha told IANS.

The film was awarded the Swarna Kamal and a cash prize of Rs 250,000. Ghosal and Mukhopadhyay were honoured with the Rajat Kamal and a cash prize of Rs 50,000 each.

The film revolves around Abhik Chowdhury (Rahul Bose), an IPS officer, who is honest and upright, but laidback. Having lost faith in the real relationships that he sees around him, Abhik seeks solace in the virtual world. While navigating through this virtual world, Abhik develops an online relationship with a young woman, Brinda (Radhika Apte), without knowing anything about her. Brinda is a young, dynamic television journalist.

The film also features actress Aparna Sen and Sharmila Tagore.