July 22: On Friday, the winners of the 68th National Awards for movies released in the year 2020 were announced. Tamil film Soorarai Pottru emerged as the biggest winner of the evening with the film winning Best Actor for Suriya, Best Actress for Aparrna Balamurali, and Best Film. Suriya shares the Best Actor award with Ajay Devgn for Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior. The film also won Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
Soorarai Pottru went on an award spree, bagging the prestigious Best Feature Film Award. The 2020 film also won three more awards namely, Best Actor (Female) for Aparna Balamurali, Best Screenplay for Sudha Kongara and Shalini Ushadevi, and Best Music Direction (BGM) for GV Prakash Kumar.
The film was inspired by the real-life story of G. R. Gopinath, the founder of India’s first low-cost airlines. It followed a common man’s dream to provide low-cost air travel to the common people.
The film, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video in November 2020, was widely received with acclaim and went on to be submitted to the 93rd Academy Awards as a paid submission under the general category. The film was also screened at the Academy Screening Room.
Notably, a Hindi remake of the film, starring Akshay Kumar and Radhika Madan, is currently in production.
Soorarai Pottru was produced by Suriya and Guneet Monga under their 2D Entertainment and Sikhya Entertainment banners.
