The Bengali film Kaalpurush, which deals with a man's struggle with his father's memories, topped the honours in the National Film Awards 2005 which was announced yesterday. 

Amitabh Bachchan and Sarika bagged the 53rd National Film Awards for best actor and actress for their performance in Black and Parsania, respectively. The awards will be given away, later this year by the President Pratibha Patil.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black will also get the award for best feature film in Hindi. Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan's performance in Black was observed as "dramatic rendition of a reformed alcoholic who struggles to give a physically handicapped child a new life”, by the jury.

The controversial movie Parzania, based on the 2002 sectarian violence in Gujarat, fetched the best direction award for Rahul Dholakia and the best actress award for Sarika for "her rendition of a crusading mother who fights for justice against all adversity in a communally charged environment".

The jury rated Kaalpurush - Memories in the Mist, directed by Budhadeb Dasgupta, as the best feature film. The award comprises the Swarna Kamal and Rs 50,000 each for the film's producer and director.

Little consolation for Malayalam

The year 2005 seems to be a dull one for Malayalam as very little was achieved by Malayalam film makers in the honors. The Nargis Dutt Award for the best film on national integration went to the Malayalam movie Daivanamathil directed by Jayaraj while Tanmatra bagged the awards for the best Malayalam film.