Shaji N Karun's Malayalam title Vanaprashtham picked up the best film award at India's 47th National Film Awards which were announced today. The film also won the best actor award for Mohan Lal's performance.

The best director award went to Buddhadev Dasgupta for his Bengali film Uttara and Kiron Kher won the best actress award for her role as a lonely landlady in Calcutta in Rituparno Ghosh's Bariwali, which also won the best Asian film award at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year.

Sarfarosh starring Aamir Khan was chosen as the best popular film while the Punjabi film Shaheed Udham Singh was given the Nargis Dutt award for the best film for National Integration.

Best supporting actor went to Atul Kulkarni for playing a Hindu fundamentalist in Kamal Haasan's Hey Ram. Bengali actresses Shohini Haldar and Sudipta Chakravorty have jointly been given the best supporting actress award for their performances in Paromitar Ek Din and Bariwali, respectively.