Ah, the sweet scent of victory! Team Gulmohar is on cloud nine as they bag the Best Hindi Film award at the 70th National Film Awards. The announcement on Friday had everyone buzzing.
Let’s break it down: Rahul V Chittella’s directorial debut not only clinched the top honor but also received a Special Mention for Best Screenplay. And who’s at the heart of this success? None other than the evergreen diva Sharmila Tagore. Making her OTT debut with Gulmohar, she shared her excitement in an interview. “Thank you so very much. We were not expecting it. I am absolutely over the moon,” she gushed, practically dancing on cloud nine. “It is so well-deserved. Rahul V Chittella is a first-time director. The film has had such a wonderful journey because everyone from the audience reaction…And, then many many awards from all forums. Obviously, the National Award is the icing on the cake. And, I am absolutely thrilled with this… Manoj [Bajpayee] also gets a special. I think it’s wonderful and I am so happy for Rahul and for all of us.”
Sharmila is no stranger to the National Film Awards, having won previously for Mausam (1976) and Abar Aranye (2003). So, it’s like adding another feather to her already feather-laden cap!
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: OTT vs. Theatrical releases. Sharmila had some interesting thoughts on this ever-controversial topic. “See film is a film and you can’t really differentiate. Obviously, it is wonderful to see it on a big screen…That doesn’t really compare. There is a huge difference between a small screen and a big screen. Had we thought of releasing in the theatre instead of OTT I think it would have been wonderful. But at that time we didn’t know, the producers didn’t know that it would be a success. And, a film is a film as I said. Laapataa Ladies was released on the big screen and I am sure it would have done great if it was released on OTT also. So Gulmohar just happened to be on OTT. Let’s not compare it. OTT had more appetite for our kind of film.”
And let’s not forget Manoj Bajpayee, who shared his thoughts with ANI. “It is such a big achievement for the entire team and the director, whose first movie won three national awards,” he said, probably while doing a happy dance.
Nisha’s Nutshell: The moral of this whole Bollywood saga? Sometimes, the small screen packs a big punch! Whether it’s OTT or a theater, a good film will always find its rightful place in the hearts of the audience. And oh, a National Award doesn’t hurt either! 😜
