“Ganga Jatra” and “Monpura” shine

A scene from “Ganga Jatra”. The film directed by Syed Ohiduzzaman Diamond won eight National Awards.

The government announced the National Film Awards for 2009 on July 21.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina conferred the awards on 28 film personalities in 26 categories at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, Dhaka on July 23. Veteran actress Sultana Zaman was honoured with the lifetime achievement award -- the first since the award's inception in 1975.
Those who received the awards are: producer Anjan Chowdhury Pintu (best film, “Monpura”); Syed Ohiduzzaman Diamond, (best film director, “Ganga Jatra”); Alam Khan (best music director, “Ebadat”); Tanjil (best dance director, “Amar Praner Priya”); Chanchal Chowdhury (best actor, “Monpura”) along with Ferdous (“Ganga Jatra”); Shahidul Alam Sacchu (best supporting actor, “Britter Baire”); Mamunur Rashid (best negative character, “Monpura”); ATM Shamsuzzaman (best comic actor, “Mon Boshena Porar Table-e”); Sadika Parveen Popy (best actress, “Ganga Jatra”) and Nipun (best supporting actress, “Chander Moto Bou”).
Among other winners are: Giasuddin Selim (best screenplay, “Monpura”); Kumar Biswajit (best male singer, “Shami-Streer Waada); Kazi Krishnakoli Islam and Chandana Majumdar (best female singer, “Monpura”), Kabir Bakul (best lyricist, “Shami-Streer Waada”); Kumar Biswajit (best music director, “Shami-Streer Waada”) and Mahfuzur Rahman Khan (best cameraman, “Britter Baire”).
Produced by Impress Telefilm Limited, two films -- “Ganga Jatra” and “Britter Bairey” directed by Ohiduzzaman Diamond and Golam Rabbani Biplob respectively -- bagged National awards in 12 categories. “Ganga Jatra” earned eight awards while “Britter Bairey” received four.