Mangaluru: National Award-winning theatre artist Roopashree Varkady, child actor Atheesh S. Shetty, filmmaker Sumanth Bhat and Kundapura-based Dr Pradeep Kenchanur arrived at Mangaluru International Airport on Wednesday afternoon after receiving honours at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi.
The award winners were warmly received at the airport by family members, friends and well-wishers who gathered to congratulate them on their national recognition.
The honours have brought attention to the contribution of artistes and filmmakers from Tulu Nadu to Indian cinema, with the Kannada film Mithya securing three National Film Awards.
‘Mithya’ wins three National Film Awards
Mithya, directed by Sumanth Bhat, emerged as one of the notable winners at the 72nd National Film Awards.
The film received three honours, with Sumanth Bhat being recognised in the Best Film category, while child actor Atheesh S. Shetty and supporting actress Roopashree Varkady were also honoured for their performances.
The awards were presented by President Droupadi Murmu at the ceremony held in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The recognition has been particularly significant for the artistes from the coastal region, who have returned home to a warm reception following the ceremony.
Roopashree Varkady, who has also earned recognition as a theatre artist, described the honour as a major achievement for Tulu Nadu and the Tulu language.
Roopashree calls award a memorable moment
Speaking to the media after arriving in Mangaluru, Roopashree Varkady expressed her happiness over receiving the National Award.
She said she had not expected such a prestigious recognition when she acted in Mithya. She attributed the achievement to the affection and support of people from Tulu Nadu, along with the blessings of her parents and the divine.
Roopashree described the occasion as one of the happiest and most memorable days of her life.
She also said the recognition had strengthened her resolve to continue working in films that address socially relevant subjects.
The actor thanked the director, producer and others associated with Mithya for giving her the opportunity to be part of the film.
Sumanth Bhat says responsibility has increased
Director and writer Sumanth Bhat said the National Award had brought a greater sense of responsibility for the team behind the film.
He said that earlier, filmmaking was largely driven by their own creative satisfaction. Following the National Award, however, he felt they had a greater responsibility towards audiences and the quality of their future work.
Bhat said that if audiences continued to watch and appreciate their films, the filmmakers would have to put in greater effort and continue improving their work.
The recognition for Mithya has provided the film team with a national platform and added significance to their work in Kannada cinema.
Atheesh thanks director and supporters
Child actor Atheesh S. Shetty also expressed his happiness over receiving the National Award.
He said he had never expected to receive such an honour and thanked Sumanth Bhat and his co-actors for giving him the opportunity to act in Mithya.
Atheesh also expressed gratitude to his parents for their constant encouragement and support.
He thanked his college management as well for supporting him during his acting journey and enabling him to pursue his commitments alongside his education.
His recognition as a child actor has added another achievement to the film’s success at the 72nd National Film Awards.
Warm reception at Mangaluru airport
The arrival of the award winners at Mangaluru International Airport turned into a celebratory occasion as relatives, friends and well-wishers gathered to welcome them.
The recognition of Roopashree Varkady, Atheesh S. Shetty and Sumanth Bhat has been widely viewed as a moment of pride for the coastal Karnataka film community.
The achievement is also notable for Tulu Nadu, with artistes from the region making their mark at a national platform.
The National Film Awards have thus provided a significant moment for the region’s creative community, while the return of the award winners to Mangaluru offered their supporters an opportunity to celebrate their achievements.
For Roopashree, Atheesh and Sumanth, the national recognition is now expected to open up further opportunities, while their success is likely to encourage more artistes and filmmakers from coastal Karnataka to pursue stories rooted in the region and its people.