After months of speculation, controversy and debate, finally President Pratibha Patil handed over the most prestigious award in Indian Cinema to the film maker of Parzania a swarna kamal and a cash prize of rupees fiftythousand.
The controversial "Parzania", based on the 2002 sectarian violence in Gujarat , garnered the best direction award for Rahul Dholakia and the best actress award for Sarika for "her rendition of a crusading mother who fights for justice against all adversity in a communally charged environment".
Having won two National Awards, the producers of the film Parzania, K.B. Sareen, Kamal Patel and Rahul Dholakia have decided to dub the film in Hindi and then in Gujarati- "This will help so many more people see the film in different parts of India" says K.B. Sareen also the Indian Distributor of the film.
Co producer Kamal Patel, who is in New Jersey, is also delighted by the film bagging two awards and feels- "having won amidst competition from films like Black, RDB, Apharan etc it's a great honor to win not one but 2 awards in the highest categories".
On winning the award, Dholakia commented that "this is a victory for Indian cinema and I have to thank every member- cast and crew as they all stood by Parzania and gave it their best regardless of all the obstacles and hurdles- Now we only hope Dara finds his son".
Attending the ceremony were Rahul's parents, Parry and Raksha Dholakia who specially flew down from Los Angeles to be with the National Award winning director: "My parents have sacrificed a lot for me, and I think this ceremony would be incomplete without them" stated Rahul, who also went on stage to receive Naseeruddin Shah's award for Best Supporting Actor.