NEW DELHI: With a hug from President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and a standing ovation, celebrated filmmaker Mrinal Sen received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the most prestigious honor in Indian cinema, on Jan. 2.

Not new to awards, Sen, 81, received a shawl and the recognition from Kalam at a glittering function to present the 51st National Film Awards at the Vigyan Bhawan here.

“What an evening it was,” said Kalam. “This is the team that made us happy throughout the year, so rightfully they have been honored.”

Besides Kalam and Sen’s warm embrace, it was the long-haired president’s smiling acknowledgement of singer Sonu Nigam’s similar hairstyle that evoked a strong reaction from the audience. Nigam, the winner of the National Award for playback singing, motioned to his hair and Kalam’s for the benefit of an amused audience.

Among others who received awards were the makers of the rib-tickling satire ‘Munnabhai M.B.B.S.’ and the brooding 1947 partition saga ‘Pinjar.’

It may have lost out on an Oscar nomination, but Marathi film ‘Shwaas’ by director Sandeep Sawant won a befitting consolation prize in the form of the National Award for the ‘Best Film’ of 2003. The film’s young star Ashwin Chitale shared the ‘Best Child Artist’ Award with Kalidasan, who portrayed a complex role in the Malayalam film ‘Ente Veedu Appoontem.’

Chitale, who was in Class 4 when he acted in ‘Shwaas,’ won the hearts of the gathering with his traditional Marathi costume complete with headgear. Fellow award winner Kalidasan was not far behind in attracting special attention, as he smartly extended a page to the president for his autograph after receiving the medal and certificate.

Filmmaker Rakesh Roshan’s alien fantasy extravaganza, ‘Koi Mil Gaya,’ won the award for ‘Best Film on Other Social Issues’ such as prohibition, women and child welfare, anti-dowry, drug abuse and welfare of handicapped.

Malayalam film ‘Maargam’ won the Indira Gandhi Award for ‘Best First Film.’

Manoj Bajpai won the Special Jury Award for ‘Best Actor’ for his turn in ‘Pinjar.’ Critically- acclaimed director Gautam Ghose took home his 13th award as he received a Swarna Kamal as ‘Best Director’ for his Bengali film ‘Aabar Aranye,’ which explores human relationships. He also won the award for ‘Best Screenplay.’

The top acting awards in the popular category eluded the Hindi film industry this time and regional stars walked away with more honors. Hindi actors, however, won in supporting categories.

Kerala actress Meera Jasmine received the ‘Best Actress’ Award for her role in ‘Padam Onnu Oru Vilapam,’ where she plays a young woman trapped in a polyandrous marriage. Tamil star Vikram won ‘Best Actor’ Award for 2003 for his performance in ‘Pithamagan.’

Veteran actress and Censor Board chairperson Sharmila Tagore, in a regal yellow sari, attracted admiring glances and resounding applause as she walked up to receive the ‘Best Supporting Actress’ Award for her portrayal in Ghose’s ‘Aabar Aranye.’

Another actor who recurred a thunderous applause was Pankaj Kapoor, who won the award for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for his performance as a mafia don in ‘Maqbool,’ loosely based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The ‘Best Music Direction’ Award went to the popular trio Shankar Mahadevan, Aloysis Mendonsa and Ehsaan Noorani. Tarali Sarma was named the ‘Best Female’ singer for a song in ‘Akashitorar Kothale’ that she rendered sans any instrumental accompaniment.

The National Awards acknowledged some 50 films in various languages. President Kalam later advised the film fraternity to contribute in building the society by making meaningful cinema that depicted the fight against corruption.