Prakash Raj, the 'Chellam' of Tamil cinema, is on cloud nine. The actor, who won a National Award for his role of Vengadam, a humble silk weaver in Priyadarshan's 'Kanchivaram', has swept aside the likes of Shah Rukh and Aamir Khans in the race.

"When Priyadarshan narrated the story, I was shaken and stirred. My hands were shivering, I was in tears and I simply walked out. After a cup of coffee, I was able to call him and blasted him for keeping the story to himself for 12 years," he says.

Interestingly, the actor did not take any money for the film. "It was a painful role. It was mind blowing professionally as well as personally. I had to unlearn all that I had to learnt as an actor," he says.

On winning the National Award, he says, "all credit should go to Priyadarshan and his team. He was hitherto called as commercial filmmaker. Had he wanted, he could have gone ahead and done some commercial ventures and made enough money. But he had the guts and conviction to do meaningful movie. I dedicate this award to Priyan, our art-director Sabu Cyril and cinematographer Thiru".

Saying that the award has encouraged him to do more realistic movies, Prakash adds: "It is what my production house 'Duet Movies' is striving for. The joy of doing such films is great. I want my contemporaries in the industry to experience it".