There are bound to be disappointments: Mehta on ‘Aligarh’ snub

MUMBAI, Apr 7:  Hansal Mehta is disappointed that his movie “Aligarh” could not win any National Award this year, but the filmmaker said he believes in moving on and will keep working on subjects that interest him.

Mehta, who won the National Film Award for “Shahid,” took to Twitter to congratulate the winners.

“I am getting calls from people asking me if ‘Aligarh’ was entered for the National Awards and if I was disappointed with the results. Yes, ‘Aligarh’ was entered and while we are disappointed like many other colleagues I would like to congratulate all the winners.

“The jury has a difficult job every year and there are bound be disappointments for many, a few debatable awards and much hurt over being overlooked. At the same time some fine films have been rewarded and some excellent work has been recognized,” Mehta wrote on Twitter.

The filmmaker said there is no point in brooding over the results and thanked “Aligarh” team for an outstanding job.

“To all my colleagues who poured their hearts out into ‘Aligarh’, lets just keep making our films with love and care-awards or no awards. There is no point brooding over the result.

“There is merit in only moving on and continuing to work, to make movies, that we believe in. Manoj, Apu, Raj, Satya, Neil, Mandar and the entire team you are all champions,” he added.

Bajpayee’s performance in the film, based on the life of an AMU professor who was sacked on charges of homosexuality, received a lot appreciation and he was considered to be frontunner for the best National Award, which eventually went to Akshay Kumar for his performance in “Rustom”. (AGENCIES)