Paruthiveeran named best Indian film at Osian's fest

Ameer Sultan's Paruthiveeran has been named the best Indian movie at the 9th Osian's Cinefan festival with the Tamil film's leading lady Priyamani bagging the best actress award.

Paruthiveeran was chosen for its "strong narrative that allows reality to be played out cinematically, rendered with visual energy to connect with a wider audience" while Priyamani was awarded for her "intense and vivid portrayal of a character driven by obsessive love and for her performance in a broad range of acting prowess".

Kay Kay Menon was named the best Indian actor for his "seering and restrained portrayal of a character in Shoonya whose struggle to overcome his personal vulnerability becomes an allegory of a nation in search of its conscience and values".

Dancing Bells, by Malaysian filmmaker Deepak Kumaran Menon was adjudged the best movie in the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) section while Woven Stories of the Other by Sherad Anthony Sanchez of Philippines triumphed in the First Features section.

In the Asian and Arab category of the festival, which concluded yeterday, South Korean director Zhang Lu's Desert Dream got the Best Film award while Tunisia's Lotfi Abdelli was named the best actor for his role in Making Of.

Cherry Pie Picache got the Best Actress award for the Filipino film Foster Child.