55th National Awards announced: Gandhi, My Father wins two

New Delhi, Sep.7 (ANI): The Anil Kapoor produced film ‘Gandhi, My Father’ has won two National Awards while the Shahrukh-starrer ‘Om Shanti Om’ has won in the Best Art Direction category, and Shahid Kapur-starrer ‘Jab We Met’ won the award in Best Choreography category in the 55th National Awards that were announced on Monday.

Gandhi, My Father was pitted against commercial successes like Taare Zameen Par and Chak De.

Feroz Abbas Khan, the director of the Gandhi, My Father won the National Award for Best Screenplay and Darshan Zariwala bagged theaward for the Best Supporting actor for portraying Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation who strives hard to have a normal relationship with his son in the film.

Meanwhile, actor Prakash Raj has won the Best Actor award in the 55th National Awards for his sterling performance as a silk weaver in Priyadarshan’s Tamil film Kanchivaram, which has been adjudged as the Best Film of 2007.

“It’s a very human story of pre-partition time about Kanjivaram. The film’s script was written so well that I didn’t require any homework. It is

It is Prakash Raj’s second National award. The previous one was in the Best Supporting Actor category for Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar in 1998 and a special jury award in 2003.

Directed by Priyadarshan, the film depicts the lives and times of silk-weavers of Kancheepuram in pre-Independent India.

Actor Umashree has won the Best Actress award for her performance for her lead role ‘Gulabi’ in Girish Kasaravalli’s Kannada film “Gulabi Talkies”.

The Gulabi Talkies, which was made in the coastal dialect of Kannada is based on the communal tension in Karnataka.

The best child actor award has gone to Sharad Goyekar for his role in the Marathi film “Tingya”.

Darshan Zariwala has got the best supporting actor award for his role in Feroz Abbas Khan’s film “Gandhi My Father”.

There is also a special jury award for this film, which explores the troubled relationship between Harilal Gandhi and Mahatma Gandhi.

“Chak De” has got the award in the wholesome entertainment category and “Taare Zameen Par” in the family welfare category.

Playback singer Shankar Mahadevan has won the award for the song “Meri Maa” from the film “Taare Zameen Par”.

The jury members for the National Awards headed by Sai Paranjpe included Ashok Viswanathan and Namita Gokhale. About 102 films and 106 non-feature films were considered.

The list had been finalized last week but because of the death of Andhra Pradesh chief minister YSR Reddy, the announcement was postponed. (ANI)

India conveys its concern to Pak about Taliban targeting Sikhs in FATA

New Delhi, May 1 (ANI): The Ministry of External Affairs has conveyed its concern to Islamabad about the treatment and safety of minorities in Pakistan, after reports of Sikhs being expelled and forced to pay ‘Jaziya’ by the Taliban.

“On seeing reports about Sikh families in Pakistan being driven out of their homes and being subject to Jaziya and other such impositions, the Government of India has taken up the question of treatment of minorities in Pakistan with the Government of Pakistan,” a spokesperson of the ministry said.

Earlier, the Taliban had expelled at least 50 Sikh families from the Orakzai Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) after they failed to pay ‘Jazia’.

The Taliban had demanded 12 million rupees as protection money from the Sikhs, who have living in the region from hundred of years, but they could arrange only 6.7 million rupees.

Later, it was reported that the extremists occupied houses and shops of the Sikhs in Qasim Khel and Feroz Khel areas of the Agency and auctioned their valuables for 0.8 million rupees, The Daily Times reports.

The Taliban had also demolished houses belonging to the Sikh community in the region.

The Taliban’s Orakzai Agency chief Hakeemullah Mehsud ordered the demolition of the houses after the Sikhs failed to meet a deadline fixed for delivering the protection money.

According to reports, many tribal families have started migrating to different parts of Hangu and Kohat out of fear of the Taliban action. (ANI)

Taliban expel 50 Sikh families from FATA for not paying Jazia

Lahore,May 1 (ANI): The Taliban has expelled at least 50 Sikh families from the Orakzai Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) after they failed to pay ‘Jazia’.

The Taliban had demanded 12 million rupees as protection money from the Sikhs, who have living in the region from hundred of years, but they could arrange only 6.7 million rupees.

Later, it was reported that the extremists occupied houses and shops of the Sikhs in Qasim Khel and Feroz Khel areas of the Agency and auctioned their valuables for 0.8 million rupees, The Daily Times reports.

Earlier, the Taliban had also demolished houses belonging to the Sikh community in the region.

The Taliban’s Orakzai Agency chief Hakeemullah Mehsud ordered the demolition of the houses after the Sikhs failed to meet a deadline fixed for delivering the protection money.

According to reports, many tribal families have started migrating to different parts of Hangu and Kohat out of fear of the Taliban action. (ANI)

Zeenat Aman expresses grief over death of Feroz Khan

Rajkot/Bangalore, Apr 28 (ANI): Bollywood actor and co-star of ‘Qurbani’ Zeenat Aman has expressed grief on the demise of actor-producer-director Feroz Khan.

“I felt very saddened after listening the news. We shared cordial relations. He was a very good person and a good director. He gave me such a beautiful film ‘Qurbani’ and casted me in such beautiful manner that it has left a mark in people’s mind even now,” said Aman.

Meanwhile, friends and family bid a teary farewell to Khan at the Johnson market graveyard in Bangalore.

Feroz Khan, who was known as one of the most colourful personalities of Indian cinema, died of cancer. He was 69.

“He was giant of a man. He was very passionate and great film maker, great friend and a very good brother. I think the industry will miss him. We will definitely miss him,” said Sanjay Khan, Feroz Khan’s brother.

Nephew Zayed Khan said that the youngsters learned a lot from Feroz Khan.

“All I can say is that he was a man with great spirit and he was a man who inspired us all. He lived his life on his own terms. He’s taught us to be strong, brave and be independent. And today, we are happy in a way that his soul is in peace. He has gone through tremendous amount of hospitalization,” said Zayed Khan.

Feroz Khan made his debut in 1960 with the film ‘Didi’ and then went onto act in several films, some of which he directed and produced as well.

Infact his film ‘Dharmatma’ was the first Indian film to be shot in Afghanistan and was also his first blockbuster hit as producer, director and actor.

Khan, who had acted in hit films like ‘Qurbani’ and ‘Jaanbaaz’ in the 80′s, is survived by his actor son Fardeen Khan, daughter Laila and estranged wife Sundari.

Feroz Khan last appeared on screen in the 2007 hit gangster comedy “Welcome”.

Feroz Khan received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement award in 2000. (ANI)