Udupi/Malpe: The most awaited Mukta TV Tulu Film Awards were presented in a glittering ceremony on January 29 at Malpe Beach amid a large number of film artistes from Coastalwood and Sandalwood and audience. Also on the occasion, the newly formed Tulu TV Channel “MUKTA” was officially launched by Chief Guest Sri Sri Laxmivara Thirtha Swamiji of Shiroor Matt.
The grand launch of Mukta channel was done with the lighting of a traditional lamp by G Shanker (Chairman, Shamili Group) along with Sri Laxmivara Thirtha Swamiji and officials of the channel.
Speaking on the occasion, G Shanker stressed on taking note of the underprivileged and helping them. “Let this channel be the voice of voiceless”, he wished.
Sri Laxmivara Thirtha Swamiji of Shiroor Matt speaking on the occasion said, “Media plays a significant role in raising the voice against corruption and empowering the citizens to fight against it. Media acts as a watchdog in keeping an eye on private as well as government institutions. It has also become the voice of the voiceless and is thriving to do justice to the needy. It has played a historical role in providing information to the people about the social and economic evils. Media has a great responsibility to create a corruption-free society”, he opined.
Vivek G of Mukta TV compared the media to the sea which brings out precious pearls from the ocean. Likewise, Mukta TV has committed to bring these precious pearls and present to the people of coastal Karnataka. He further said that there would be hurdles while doing so but nothing would deter Mukta TV from doing its job. They are committed to give the best of best to Tulunadu and will do so at all cost, he hoped.
On the occasion, people who have excelled in various fields were felicitated-Harekala Hajabba, Ravi Katapadi, Nithyanada Volakadu, Neha Rai, Ganesh, Vishu Shetty Ambalpadi, Gudda Panara, Sinchana Gowda, Tannirubavi Friends, Padmanabh, Chandrashekar, Ramanna and Sanjeev Suvana.
Former MLA Raghupathi Bhat, Lalaji R Mendon, ZP member Githanjali Suvarna, Adani Group’s Kishore Alva, Naveen Bhandary, Jaya Acharya, Leeladhar Shetty, Purushotham Shetty, Yaspal Suvarna, Divakar Sanil, Sathish Shetty Patla, Sandeep Shetty, Ganesh Kumar, Mattar Rathnakar Hegde, Mohammed Mowla, Gurme Suresh Shetty and others were present. After the official launching of Muktha channel, Muktha Tulu film awards 2017 were presented.
A few well known TV personalities who have ventured into Tulu movies were introduced and those who have worked tirelessly to bring the best in Tulu movies were remembered on the occasion and were honoured. They included mainly actor and producer K N Tailor (Dareda Budedi/Bisati Babu) and Sundarnath Suvarna. They were posthumously conferred lifetime achievement award. Bhoja Suvarna, Dr. Sanjiva Dandikeri, V J Pal and T A Srinivas were also honoured on the occasion.
Jury members P H Vishwanath, Banna Subramanya, Rekha Rani, Ashok Kashyap, N R K Vishwanath handed over the Tulu film award results to Vivek G Suvarna and Ashwath Kanchan.
“Kudla Café” was adjudged the Best Film of 2016, while best story award went to Pavitra.
Shivadhwaj won the Best Actor (Male) for Panoda Bodcha and Sheethal Nayak Best Actress (Female) for Dabak Daba Aisa.
There were also Facebook choice awards where the popular actors, actresses, and comedians were selected through voting. Asthik Shetty was voted the best actor, Chirashree Achan the best actress and Manju Rai Moolur was voted the best comedian for the year 2016.
Celebrities from Sandalwood and other fields including B C Patil (actor, producer, director), Ashok Kashyap (cinematographer, producer, director), Pannaga Bharana (director), Diganth Manchale (actor), Shruthi Ramakrishna (actress), Shruti Hariharan (actress), Dhananjay K A (actor), Srushti B Patil (actress), Vijaya Raghavendra (actor), Raghu Dixit (singer), Rajashri Ponnappa (actress), Radhika Chetan (actress), Dileep Rao (actor), Raghu Mukherjee (actor), Rekha Rani (writer and producer), Patla Sathish Shetty (Yakshagana artiste), Saanvi Shetty (Voice of India and NDTV), Advika Shetty (Dance India Dance L’ll Masters), Chitrali (Zee Kannada’s Drama Juniors) and Shravya S Rao (Yede Thumbi Haaduvenu) were also present on this occasion.
The award ceremony was conducted by R J Roopesh Shetty and Madhu Mailankody who entertained the audience throughout the ceremony. Prior to awards ceremony, dances and songs were performed by local artistes.
Awards List – Muktha Tulu Cinema Award – 2016:
Best Film – Kudla Cafe
Best Actor (Male) – Shivadhwaj for Panoda Bodcha
Best Actor (Female) – Sheethal Nayak for Dabak Daba Aisa
Best Director – K Lingaraju for Pilibail Yamumakka
Best Actor in a Comic Role – Aravind Bolar for Jai Tulunadu
Best Story – Y AnanthramYermal for Pavitra
Best Screen Play – Soorya Menon for Kudla Cafe
Best Dialogue – Devadas Kapikad for Barsa
Best Lyrics – Mayur R Shetty for Pilibail Yamunakka
Best Music Director – Kishore Kumar Shetty for Pilibail Yamunakka
Best Background Music – Manikanth Kadri for Barsa
Best Action – Karthik Patel for Rambarooti
Best Choreographer – Giri for Pilibail Yamunakka
Best Male Singer – Patla Satish Shetty for Pilibail Yamunakka
Best Female Singer – Neha Mangaluru for Namma Kudla
Best Comedy Actor (Male) – Aravind Bolar for Jai Tulunadu
Best Comedy Actor (Female) – Sujatha for Barsa
Best Actor in a Negative Role – Gopinath Bhat for Barsa
Best Supporting Actor – Naveen D Padil
Best Cinematography – Santhosh Rai Pathaje
Jury’s Best Awards – Bhojaraj Vamanjoor and Arjun Kapikad
