Best Actor [Male] in a Leading Role
[Indian Language]
The supposed big one
in any language, in any award show, no matter the better performance; but, I
play, fair.
As such the second
ranked Indian Language acting award of the night. Last year Basabdatta
Chaterjee scored the big win for his subtle, nuanced and sober turn in Bengali
love poem Asha Jaoar Majhe.
So who gets it this
time round, here are our nominees...
Dulquer Salman as Krishnan for Kammatipaadam
The young progeny of
the legendary Mammotty has slowly begun to build a hell of a performance
oriented career. Last year he shone in
two blistering and widely different performances in Charlie and OK Kanmani.
This year he dazzled
in Kali, as a brooding young man with a short temper.
However it was the
time transcending performance as Krishnan that stood out. Playing the character
across three generation and myriad of complexities in life, Salman ably
portrays the initial innocence, drive and the latter angst and desperation in
the sordid tale of friendship and deceit.
Unlike most actors
who reflect the change in expression, dialogue and mindset; Salman equally puts
effort in the physical, there's a changed stance to his action sequences as a
young man and an older one. Yet the internal is never forgotten, the alertness
of the characters emotional space is what makes Salman such an intuitive and
genius actor with a brighter future ahead.
SJ Surya as Arul
Dass for Iraivi
As the aloof drunk
husband and passionate filmmaker looking for one last chance, Surya in spite of
his character becomes the heart of the film. So when the climax hits, black
poison seeps into the heart and the performance comes full circle.
Playing a drunk with
ease, while also exuding passion for his pet project from all his pours; Surya
is absolutely endearing, you believe it from his eyes when he mentions how his
second shelved film is his baby and without it being born [released] he cannot
move on.
His journey then
becomes a necessity to follow and fulfil, Surya aids as much as he gets as a
performer and that belief is relayed in the actions of his co-characters.
It's a performance
that illicit a wide range of emotions and a smooth change between them thanks
to the astute sharpness of a performer such as Surya, a turn unexpected but
welcome all the same.
Nana Patekar as Ganpat
Belwalkar for Natsamrat
Your heart weeps
when Ganpat is broken down by absolute madness and the loss of his wife cries
'Koni ghaar deta ghaar' ['Is there any home for me'].
It's a scene that
echoes very best of both King Lear and Nana Patekar. At this point in his
career, the man is a master of his craft and as effortless as effortless can
be.
What is more
thrilling is that the effortless performer translates his style into a film
that is very much theatrical in scope, it's a mixture of two worlds that match
once in a blue moon when Nana Patekar graces us with his presence.
It's sad that such a
fine performer has been reduced to a footnote in Hindi cinema, well what is
their loss is Marathi cinemas absolute gain.
Vijay Sethupati as Michael for Iraivi
What a year it has
been for Vijay Sethupati?
From shining as the
Mass hero he is in the aptly titled Sethupathi to the conflicted lover, friend
and husband in Iraivi.
Vijay Sethupati is
living proof that one's starry and massy appeal need not come against their
acting aspirations.
In Iraivi, he gives
an absolutely measured turn. If Surya is the whisky then Sethupathi is the soda
that comes with it, dry and subtle yet adding a flavour tat prevents from
complete intoxication yet leads to another high.
It's a performance
well calibrated that the characters evolution from a scorned lover and loyal
friend into a caring husband and fearful scared man comes so smooth that
there's no discernible difference but a well charted evolution in the slowly
breaking body language.
Sethupati is close
to the peak of his abilities and Iraivi is another wonderful leap forward.
Shashank Arora as Naman for Brahman Naman
In Shashank Arora; Q
and Naman Ramachandran find a game actor who is willing to go all out in
occupying the slimy, sleazy, idiocy of their protagonist Naman.
Arora mixes a
cocktail of both high pitched crazy comedy and talented smarts, playing both
the goofy and the straight laced. He never misses his comic beat, but
especially important is that even without actually overtly doing so; Arora
sheds this comedic touch and presents the uglier truth of a naive and arrogant
Naman despite still living in his bubble of Brahman superiority.
It's a blistering
turn, sometime overshadowed by the comedic touches of others, yet it is still
far well rounded.
And the Winner is...
Shashank Arora as Naman for Brahman Naman!!!
So there you go, the big leading actor winner. Still not the top of the list though.
Up Next: Five women came from all walks of life and languages and one walks out the winner!!!
'Nuff Said,
Aneesh Raikundalia
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