"We worked so hard," says Sharmila Tagore as 'Gulmohar' bags National Award for Best Film

New Delhi [India], October 8 : Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore's film Gulmohar won big at the 70th National Film Awards, taking home three awards: Best Film (Hindi), Best Dialogues, and a Special Mention for actor Manoj Bajpayee. The awards were presented by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony on Tuesday.
Speaking to the media, Sharmila Tagore shared her joy and spoke about the effort that went into making Gulmohar.
"Gulmohar got the best dialogues and best film. And we worked so hard for Gulmohar and we were very happy. And I thought the whole, the entire function was done so well and so precisely and everybody coming on time. And it was very well orchestrated and made me very proud to see the whole thing. And so I'm going back very happy with wonderful memories. But again, I thought Mithun Chakraborty absolutely deserves the Phalke Award. And he was very good. And thank you so much for giving me a chance to talk about it," she said.
She also spoke about Mithun Chakraborty's Dadasaheb Phalke Award win, praising his speech at the event.
"It a wonderful, wonderful experience, wonderful. I mean Mithun Chakraborty spoke so well. It just, I mean you know, I just went and embraced him because he really inspired me. And it was straight from the heart and his lived experience. He really made the show," she added.
Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who won a Special Mention for his role in Gulmohar, expressed his gratitude in an interview with ANI. This marks his fourth National Film Award win.
"It is a huge thing when such a small film makes its presence felt at National Film Award... I feel honoured. Also, I can't take all the credit myself. I thank my director, who offered me this film, and all the people who worked with me, all the co-actors who supported my work. I also express gratitude to my audience for showering love on me," he said.
Prior to this, Bajpayee won national awards as Best Actor in Bhonsle (2021), Best Supporting Actor in Satya (1999) and a Special Jury Award for Pinjar (2004).
Director Rahul V. Chittella was also thrilled by the recognition Gulmohar received.
"It's an absolute privilege to receive the highest recognized Indian film award for Gulmohar from the Honorable President herself. My entire team is deeply thrilled as it's a beautiful poetic culmination from where we began this journey together. Along with having won the Best Hindi Film and Best Dialogues award with my co-writer, Arpita Mukherjee, I'm also particularly delighted that Manoj Bajpayee has won the best actor (special mention). It's an honour to know that his fourth National award is for this very beloved film. He's a rare treasure and it's been a privilege creating this film with him and the legendary Sharmila ji!" he said.
Helmed by Rahul V Chittella, 'Gulmohar' revolves around the multi-generation Batra family who are all set to move out of their 34-year-old family home - Gulmohar- and how this shift in their lives is rediscovery of the bonds that have held them together as a family with secrets and insecurities.
The film also stars Simran, and Suraj Sharma in the lead roles. Notably, Gulmohar has received three National Awards this year.