Fortunately, I have been blessed with that resource already. I‘d like to give this money to the film institute for the development of good cinema the Gollapudi Srinivas Memorial National Award function, held on Tuesday , ended on a tearful note, despite Lekha Washington's howlers throughout the evening as its host (felicitation was always facilitation, Munna Bhai's director was ‚Vinu Vinu Chopra, Jagjit Singh was Pamabushan-ji). The packed audience at Kamarajar Arangam saw actor Aamir Khan, recipient of the award, get emotional on stage twice, while hearing director K Balachandar heap praise on him, and when he delivered his acceptance speech, wishing his mother was there to see this happen.
The evening began with a concert by Jagjit Singh, and Anupam Kher followed it with a speech on special children whom he called children of the bigger God. The Gollapudi Srinivas Foundation National Award, in its 11th year, honours a debut director every year, in memory of director Gollapudi Srinivas who met with a tragic end whilst shooting his first film. Presenting the award to Aamir Khan for his debut directorial venture Taare Zameen Par was director K Balachandar, besides Anupam Kher and Vidhu Vinod Chopra.
“Indian cinema is in safe hands now,” director K Balachandar said, adding how he had been pushed to tears seeing TZP, and had called on Aamir Khan to congratulate him for the movie.
“I introduced myself as a small time filmmaker from South India but he immediately responded saying that he was a big fan of mine,” the director said, adding that he hated, yet adored Aamir Khan for making him look back at scripts again after he had retired, on seeing a movie like TZP.
Aamir Khan, on his part, thanked the guests and hosts immensely for the award, and donated the cash award of Rs 1, 50,000 that he had received to the Film Institute in Taramani. “An award, even if financial, gives one the strength to continue what they're doing. Fortunately, I have been blessed with that resource already. I'd like to give this money to the film institute for the development of good cinema.” A memorable event it thus was, for all those in Chennai, who'd finally seen Aamir Khan appear in person and accept an honour. And so it was for the actor himself, who called it a special moment, one that he'd never forget. And, perhaps, as proof to that, he carried back home the speech written by KB, calling it one he'd proudly read to his grand children, when he turned old.
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