Award a recognition for passion behind film: Prakash Raj

Actor Prakash Raaj, who won the National Award in the Best Actor category for his role in Priyadarshan's Tamil film Kanchivaram, said that the honour is a "recognition for passion" that went behind the movie.

"I am very elated. More elated for the fact that Kanchivaram is a Tamil film and it is a recognition for not only the film but the entire passion behind it," Raaj, who played a Left-leaning, debt-ridden weaver in the period drama, told PTI over phone from Karnataka.

An actor-producer known to essay his characters with ease, Raj said, "I am very very happy," on being adjudged the Best Actor for his role in the film, which also bagged the Best Film trophy at the 55th National Awards announced today.

A pupil from the school of noted Tamil film maker K Balachander, who also introduced Tamil film icons Rajnikant and Kamal Hassan, Raj made his debut as villain in the former's Duet and later acted in several of Balchander's films.

Having won the Best Supporting Actor for his role in the Maniratnam-directed Iruvar (1998) which was believed to be a celluloid remake centered around the political stalwarts of Tamil Nadu -- AIADMK founder MGR and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi.

Raaj has also acted along with Kamal Hassan in "Vasool Raja MBBS", a remake of Hindi film "Munnabhai MBBS". He played the arrogant Doctor's role played by Boman Irani in the Hindi version. He recently ventured into production with critically-accalaimed movies including "Mozhi", a tale of a deaf and mute girl and her tribulations.