Exclusive: Winning a National Film Award is like climbing Mt Everest: Sagar Puranik

“We have been winning awards at several international film festivals, but a National Film Awards is like climbing Mt Everest, a pinnacle. It is a surreal moment for us,” says Sagar Puranik, director of Dollu.

Dollu, which revolves around a traditional dance form, won the Best Regional Film Award in the Kannada category and for audiography. The film features Nidhi Hegde and Karthik Mahesh in lead roles.

“The hard work, grit and determination of the entire team made it possible, so I thank them. The confidence producer Pawan Wadeyar and his wife and actress Apeksha Purohit had in us is the reason why we were able to achieve this feat.”

I dedicate this award to Puneeth Rajkumar: Pawan Wadeyar
“Winning a national award for my first project as a producer is one of the high points in my career,” said Pawan Wadeyar. “I dedicate this award to Puneeth Rajkumar sir who would have been delighted with what we have achieved. I want such films to reach common audiences so I will release it in the cinema halls, probably in August.”

Controversy around the audiography award
Sagar Puranik posted on social media: “We have also won another technical award for best audiography, location sound recordist (for sync sound films only). This is a little confusing for us as our film is not a sync sound film. There is no mention of the specific sync sound requirements even in the application form. I am assuming that the jury members have noticed the highly difficult process of recreating the sounds for all the Dollu performances and have acknowledged it in this manner.”