Southern film industry bags 17 National Awards

Tamil family drama "Thanga Meengal", Telugu drama "Na Bangaru Thalli", Kannada film "Prakruthi" and Malayalam drama "24 North Kaatham" were among the southern movies that pocketed 17 awards at the 61st National Awards here Wednesday.

The other southern films include "Dharmam" (Tamil), "Kanyaka" (Malayalam), "December 1" (Kannada), "Vallinam" (Tamil), "Thalaimuraigal" (Tamil), "Perariyathavara (Malayalam) and "Swapaanam" (Malayalam).

In Tamil, Ram-directed "Thanga Meengal" was adjudged the best Tamil film, besides bagging best lyrics by Na. Muthu Kumar for the song "Ananda Yaazhai" and best child artist for Sadhana as well.

For Tamil sports-drama "Vallinam", V.J. Sabu Joseph pocketed an award for best editing.

Late filmmaker Balu Mahendra's Tamil drama "Thalaimuraigal" bagged the Nargis Dutt Award for best film on National Integration.

Tamil film "Dharmam", about middle class hypocrisy, won a special mention award.

Telugu drama "Na Bangaru Thalli", a story about sex trade, bagged three awards - it was adjudged the best film in the language, while actress Anjali Patil received a special mention certificate for her performance in the film and composer Shantanu Moitra won award for background score.

Kannada movie "December 1" bagged two awards - best film and best original screenplay for P. Seshadri.

Writer Panchakshari won an award for best adapted screenplay for Kannada drama "Prakruthi".

Malayalam filmdom bagged a total of five awards.

Suraj Venjaramoodu won the best actor award for Malayalam film "Perariyathavara", which also won best film award on Environment Conservation and Preservation.

In the best audiography category, D. Yuvaraj won the best re-recordist of the final mixed track award for Malayalam film "Swapaanam".

Malayalam drama "North 24 Kaatham" won the best film award in the language.

Director Christo Tomy won the best debut director award for his Malayalam film "Kanyaka"