National Award has boosted the winners' morale

Ecstatic, was the overwhelming feeling among the winners of the 57th National Awards and they said the prestigious honour has boosted their morale and inspired them to do much better work in future.

Films from Bollywood walked away with 15 awards at the gala here Friday evening.

Actor Abhishek Bachchan, who received his first ever National Award for 'Paa', his debut production, said: "I am really happy after receiving such a prestigious honour, this is a very important moment. Such awards make us realise that we have to perform even better in future."

His father, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who walked away with the best actor award for playing a 13-year-old boy suffering from progeria in 'Paa', said: "I am glad to receive such a prestigious honour."

Abhishek was accompanied by director R. Balki as he went on to the stage to collect the Best Hindi film award from President Pratibha Patil.

"I'm really happy that my film got recognition at the national level. However, I am more happy for Amitji for winning the best actor award. He is an incredible actor and I had written this film keeping him in mind," Balki said.

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, whose film 'Delhi 6' won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Film on National Integration, said: "It feels good when one's work has been awarded. It is especially a great honour since it is the National Award. This indeed motivates us to make good films. The challenge has increased."

Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan, who won the Best Debutante Director award for his sports-based film 'Lahore', said, "I am ecstatic that I received one of the country's top prestigious honour with my very first film. There were no big names attached to the film and it is still being recognised. I'll try to keep up the good work."

Veteran actor Farooq Shaikh, who won the best supporting actor award for 'Lahore', said, "Getting a national award is a matter of great pride. I am really happy."

Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, whose film '3 Idiots' won the award for the Most Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, said, "I feel really honoured and happy. I am proud of the film."

Director Shyam Benegal's 'Well Done Abba' walked away with Best Film on Social Issues. He said, "I feel very nice that my film got a national recognition."

Oscar-winning sound recordist Resul Pookutty, who won an award for Malayalam film 'Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja', said, "It feels really nice to receive a National Award. Although I have won an Oscar earlier, but this holds a special place because it is the nation's recognition."

Lyricist Swanand Kirkire, who won an award for penning the song 'Behti Hawa' from '3 Idiots', said, "It is a prestigious moment for me. It is a seal that people liked our work and this motivates us to do even better."