It's celebration time for the Bengali film industry with "Jaatishwar" bagging as many as four National Awards in the 61st edition of the coveted honours.

The Srijit Mukherji-directed film, with Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee in the lead, clinched the awards including best make-up (Vikram Gaikwad), best music (Kabir Suman), best singer (Rupankar Bagchi) and best costume designer (Sabarni Das).

Director Pradipta Bhattacharyya's "Bakita Byaktigoto" was selected for the Best Bengali Film award while "Heyro Party", a Bengali animation flick by Deepak Gawade has been adjudged the best film on family values.

Rajdeep Paul and Sarmistha Maiti's "At the Cross Roads: Nondon Bagchi Life and Living" (in English and Bengali) won Special Mention.

The city is set to host the Indian Animation Masters Summit, starting April 25, which will be attended by the best animators in the country later.

Organised by Technopark based Indian animation major, Toonz Animation, the two-day event will see the likes of Devdutt Pattanai, Ajit Rao, Dhimant Vyas, Sanjiv Waeerkar, Nina Sabnani, Prosenjit Ganguly,Gitanjali Rao, Shekhar Mukherjee, Chetan Sharma,Vaibhav Kumaresh, Manisha Mohan, Gayatri Rao and Ranjit Singh Tony taking part in the summit.

The event is being organised as part of the 15th anniversary celebrations of Toonz.

"This year, we have decided to bring together the Indian animation masters to discuss a road map for the Indian animation industry as well as provide a platform for animation enthusiasts to meet and learn from them," said P. Jayakumar, CEO of Toonz Group.

"We believe that this initiative will set a launch pad for a collective learning in the industry," added Jayakumar.

Since setting up shop here at the Technopark campus in 1999, Toonz Animation made a mark in the global animation arena with the production of the India's first animated series "Tenali Raman".

Fifteen years later, they are one of the top animation production houses in Asia Pacific region, with numerous animation features that have fetched them many prestigious national and international recognitions.

Euphoric after receiving the National Award for scoring the music of Bengali film "Jaatishwar", music composer Kabir Suman Wednesday dedicated the honour to the people of West Bengal.

The Srijit Mukherji directed film with Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee in the lead, won four awards including best makeup, best music, best singer and best costume designer.

"I feel euphoric receiving the award. The award belongs to the people of Bengal," Suman told the media here.

Acknowledging the contribution of the film's director Srijit Mukherji and singer Rupankar for his success, Suman said: "I had expected that Srijit and Prosenjit will be given the best director and best actor award respectively."

Singer Rupankar Bagchi dedicated his best playback singer honour for the song "E Tumi Kemon Tumi" to Suman.

"I feel very happy and the win is special and it serves as a reminder that I am Indian. I dedicate the award to Suman da," Bagchi said here.

Saborni Das, who won the National Film Award for best costume designer, said it was "difficult" to design outfits as "Jaatishwar" was a period film.

"Without giving much importance to awards, one must move on in life, although awards work as an incentive to work hard. Designing costumes for this movie had been quite difficult. The story is having lots of layers as the movie depicts two era - the colonial days and the present scenario," she said.

Mukherji, who missed out on the coveted prize, lauded the team's effort.

"I feel ecstatic receiving the award, the characters of this story are very dear to me. Prosenjit Chatterjee,Indradeep Dasgupta and Shamik Haldar's immense hard work finally paid off good results. AKabir Suman finally received the award he deserves," he said.

Former Bollywood actor and Trinamool Congress candidate Moon Moon Sen - contesting the Lok Sabha polls from West Bengal's Bankura - Wednesday declared assets in excess of Rs.1 crore, most of which are moveable.

Sen, in her affidavit, has shown Rs.293,455 as her annual income and said she possesses Rs.103.4 lakh worth of moveable assets and Rs.4.5 lakh worth of immoveable property.

Besides Rs.38.97 lakh as bank deposits, Sen owns over 1.7 kg of gold worth Rs.52.56 lakh and diamonds valued at Rs.6 lakh. She also owns a car which she had purchased in 2011 for Rs.5.2 lakh.

Her immoveable assets include a 316 square feet residential flat in Mumbai which she bought in 1992 for Rs.4.5 lakh.

Her liabilities are a loan of Rs.10.13 lakh.

Her husband with an annual income of Rs.2,82,329, for the year 2012-13, possesses moveable assets worth Rs.38.71 lakh.

His immoveable assets are valued at Rs.6.5 lakh, which includes 10 cottah of agricultural land at Bolpur in Birbhum district which he purchased in 2004 for Rs.2 lakh.

Sen, who holds a post graduate degree in comparative literature from Jadavpur University, has not been accused of any offence.

Praise and congratulations poured in on social networking sites for the cast and crew of Bengali movie "Jaatishwar" that bagged four National Awards Wednesday.

The Srijit Mukherji-directed film, with Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee in the lead, clinched awards for Make-up (Vikram Gaikwad), Music (Kabir Suman), Singer (Rupankar Bagchi) and Costume (Sabarni Das).

Prosenjit took to Twitter to express his happiness.

He said: "Hpy2got d news dat national awrd gvn2 Sumanda4music director, rupankar4singer, vikram gayekwad fr makeup n saborni fr costume."

Mukherji lauded the team's effort and tweeted: "Jaatishwar sweeps the 61st National Film Award ceremony with a whopping four awards, the second highest tally ever."

It was celebration time for the Bengali cinema industry as three other films got awards.

Director Pradipta Bhattacharyya's "Bakita Byaktigoto" was selected the Best Bengali Film while "Heyro Party", a Bengali animation flick by Deepak Gawade was adjudged the Best Film on Family Values.

Rajdeep Paul and Sarmistha Maiti's "At the Cross Roads: Nondon Bagchi Life and Living" (in English and Bengali) won Special Mention.

Mukerji also praised the other winners.

"Additionally Baakita Byaktigoto, the first film that I have presented, produced by Tripod Entertainment and directed by the brilliant Pradipta Bhattacharyya gets the National Award for the Best Bengali film. Congratulations to the teams!:)," he said.

Singer Anupam Roy tweeted: "Congratulations to all the winners - keep shining! Very happy!:)."

Netizens acknowledged the musical prowess of the film.

Ashok Raaj tweeted: "Kabirsuman sara banglar garbo. Sudhu National award er prapti tukui baki chilo! Donnobad banglar hridoy e thakbe! (Kabir Suman is the pride of Bengal. Only this honour was yet to be received. You all always remain in the hearts of the Bengalis)."

Chiranjit Laha wrote: "Its great to hear, Jaatishwar gets #NationalAward for best music... really what an awesome film and Kabir Suman deserves this one:)."

For Bollywood actress Riya Sen, joining mother and Trinamool Congress candidate Moon Moon Sen on her roadshows in West Bengal's Bankura district has been a "humbling experience" with the "warmth of the people" sheltering them from the soaring mercury.

With daughters - actresses Raima and Riya - in tow, Moon Moon Sen wooed the voters, who turned out in large numbers to catch a bit of stardust, in her constituency.

"Standing amidst a crowd of 40,000 people of Bankura is a humbling experience! See you all in the evening again," Riya tweeted Wednesday during a roadshow in Bankura's Mejia locality.

"If you ask me, I think the warmth of the people here at Bankura put the heat to shame!" she said.

The Oxford-educated Moon Moon Sen had the two starlets as constant companions as she filed her nomination papers Wednesday for the Bankura Lok Sabha seat.

"Roads washed with water for my mom's road show at Bankura! Best joke ever, anyway great turnout and response! Overwhemed!," Riya chirped on the microblogging site.

An NGO will hold a music fest in the hills of the picturesque tourist resort Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh this weekend to raise money for underprivileged children, the event's organiser said Wednesday.

The country's 10 popular bands will perform in the third edition of the "Kasauli Rhythm and Blues Festival" April 18-20, Genesis Foundation said in a statement.

The bands include Valentine Shipley, Kaya, Ministry of Blues, Susmit Sen Chronicles, Indus Creed, Whirling Kalapas and Adi and Suhail.

"Support from sponsors, bands and patrons have made this annual music festival an event to look forward to and as in the past, more precious lives will be saved from the funds raised at this event," said Genesis Foundation founding trustee Prema Sagar.

Genesis Foundation supports critically-ill under-privileged and orphan children in the areas of cancer, cardiac disorder, post organ transplant, thalassemia and extreme deformities.

Bollywood singer and BJP candidate for West Bengal's Asansol Lok Sabha seat Babul Supriyo has declared assets worth over Rs.7.3 crore, which includes four residential flats in Mumbai.

The 44-year-old, whose annual income for 2012-13 stood at Rs.7,44,950, possesses nearly Rs.1.85 crore worth of moveable assets including over Rs.38 lakh in bank deposits and gold worth Rs.5.23 lakh.

Supriyo owns three vehicles, including one which he bought in 2012 for Rs.50,69,321.

He has also invested Rs.12.75 lakh in bonds, debentures and shares besides giving advances to the tune of Rs.2.72 lakh to others.

His immoveable assets - all of which are self acquired - include four residential flats and two garages in Mumbai and are collectively valued at Rs.5.5 crore.

His three residential flats in Lokhandwala in Mumbai are currently valued at a total of Rs.3.4 crore while the fourth flat in Goregaon - also in the same metropolis - is worth Rs.1.9 crore.

His 1,250 square feet twin garage in Lokhandwala is worth Rs.20 lakh.

His liabilities, mostly in the form of bank loans, amount to over Rs.1.47 crore.

Supriyo's wife owns over Rs.3.7 lakh of moveable assets while his daughter too has moveable properties worth over Rs.14.21 lakh.

The commerce graduate from Calcutta University has not been convicted of any offence.

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap's much awaited film "Bombay Velvet", which was reportedly planned to be released on Christmas along with Aamir Khan's "P.K.", is now set for Nov 28 release, the makers of "Bombay Velvet" announced Wednesday.

On the final day of the shoot of "Bombay Velvet" at CCI Club, Mumbai, the producer Fox Star Studios announced to the cast and crew of the film that both the films will get the release window that they truly deserve.

"Every once in a while comes a film which is very special. 'Bombay Velvet' is a big canvas film with some incredible performances. A special film demands a special release weekend. 'Bombay Velvet' will release worldwide on the Thanksgiving weekend, Nov 28," said Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios.

Both Ranbir Kapoor-starrer "Bombay Velvet" and Aamir Khan's "P.K." have been hailed as the films to watch out for this year, and exhibitors and distributors were worried that the two films were heading for a box office clash.

Ranbir Kapoor said: "I'm really proud of the movie and by not clashing we have decided that it is the best way to put 'Bombay Velvet' across to more audiences. It is a film that has been made with a lot of love and we are proud to announce that Anurag's dream and passion is going to come to the theatres on Nov 28."

"It has been exciting 10 months on the sets with such good actors and a hard working crew to shoot this story which has always fascinated me. This has been a fantastic journey till now and in fact I feel super-charged to enter the next stage of the film,” Anurag Kashyp said.

Vikas Bahl of Phantom Films, which has co-produced "Bombay Velvet", added: "We are quite happy to finish the shoot the way Anurag envisioned the film. We look forward to create a phenomenal cinematic experience for the big screen this year."

Directed by Anurag Kashyap the film features Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma in lead.

A clash of two big films - "Bombay Velvet" and "P.K." - has been avoided. Anurag Kashyap has officially announced that his film "Bombay Velvet" will release Nov 28 and not during the Christmas season.

"We finished shooting last night and only one day's shoot that has to be done in Kolkata is left. I hope everybody is happy when they see the film. It will release Nov 28," Kashyap said at a party organised by the producers to announce the release date of the film.

Earlier, there was a date tussle between "Bombay Velvet" and "P.K." as Kashyap also wanted to release his film around Dec 19, the date that Rajkumar Hirani wanted his "P.K." to come out.

Actor Ranbir Kapoor, who plays the lead in "Bombay Velvet," says the film has been Kashyap's dream for nine years and it is best that it does not clash with any film.

"I think Anurag has put in a lot of effort into the film and it has been his dream since nine years. It would be fair if a wider audience sees the film because he has made a very engaging film," Ranbir said at the party.

"So, I think it is the correct release date, we will get more theatres, we don't want to clash with another film. Every film's business gets affected. So it's the best thing we have done and hopefully the audience will give it a chance," he added.

"Bombay Velvet" also stars Anushka Sharma and filmmaker Karan Johar.

Filmmaker Karan Johar, who will be seen acting in his first full-fledged role in "Bombay Velvet", says it was great to work under Anurag Kashyap's direction in the film.

The shooting of the movie is almost over with just a day's shoot left.

"It was great to be directed by Anurag. Most of my scenes are with Ranbir (Kapoor). So, officially he is my favourite co-star and my favourite director is Anurag Kashyap. I don't have any other choice actually," the 41-year-old said here Wednesday at a party thrown by the producers to announce the release date of the film.

Kashyap said that "Bombay Velvet" has hints of a love story.

"It is just a love story and the rest we will tell you soon. The first look will release in October," Kashyap said.

"Bombay Velvet" also stars Anushka Sharma and is scheduled for a Nov 28 release this year.

Actor Rajeev Khandelwal, who loves eating, managed to lose some weight while filming his forthcoming movie “Samrat & Co.”.

Rajeev reportedly ate meals five times a day and still lost six kg for Kaushik Ghatak’s directorial due to the scenes he had to perform - proving that eating small but more meals in a day along with a bit of physical activity is good to keep one fit.

“When you talk about Rajeev, the first thing that can come to your mind is food, he eats everything possible! Since we were shooting for the film in the hilly locations of Himachal Pradesh, there was a lot of running and chasing scenes involved," a source said.

"By the end of it, Rajeev would run out of his adrenaline rush and hence lost almost six kg of weight,” he said in a statement.

In the film, produced by Kavita Barjatya, Rajeev plays a private investigator, who sports long coats.

Recalling his experience, Rajeev said: "It was quite hilarious. I am a die-hard foodie and though I ate meals almost throughout the day, I lost quite an amount of weight due to which I had to wear even heavier overcoats so that I could look bulky,” he said.

Presented by Rajshri Productions, "Samrat & Co." will release April 25.

Angaraag Mahanta aka Papon, a multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer, has been signed on by audio company Sennheiser to endorse their products. Papon joins the company’s list of endorsers such as Farhan Akthar, Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy and Raghu Dixit.

Talking about the association with Sennheiser, Papon said in a statement, "One needs a great partner to make great music, and I have chosen to partner with Sennheiser in pursuit of perfect sound."

“My band, the East India Company, and I have used a number of microphones over the years, but we believe nothing matches up to a Sennheiser. I am honoured to be part of the Sennheiser family, as it has also been the choice of music legends from across the globe,” he added.

All future live performances of Papon will be powered by Sennheiser.

Credited with reviving interest in folk music from the North East, Papon has seven successful Assamese albums to his name, as well as a band titled Papon and the East India Company that melds folk tunes from the region with electronic music.

The fact that "Jolly LLB" has won two National Film Awards has left its team - Fox Star Studios and director Subhash Kapoor upbeat about treating the audience to their next project "Guddu Rangeela".

"Jolly LLB" was Wednesday declared the best Hindi film, while actor Saurabh Shukla was named the best supporting actor for the same movie as the 61st National Film Awards were announced.

A comic satire on the country’s legal system, the film also stars Arshad Warsi and Boman Irani.

Happy and proud of the film's victory, Kapoor said: "To win a national award for this film ('Jolly LLB') is indeed very special and it’s a huge responsibility as well, as we move on to bring our next, 'Guddu Rangeela'."

Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios added: "Team 'Jolly LLB' is now excited to bring 'Guddu Rangeela' to the audiences.

"Looking ahead, as we get set for our two releases in May, 'Hawaa Hawaai' and 'CityLights, all we can say is that we are pushing the envelope to create cinema that will tug at the hearts of the audiences and will push the boundaries of excellence."

Actress Tisca Chopra made an effort to extend her connect with fans by signing copies of her maiden book "Acting Smart" at a meet and greet event.

The "Taare Zameen Par" actress visited the Crossword stores in Inorbit, Malad and Oberoi Mall, Goregaon for the activity here recently.

The book is said to be for cinegoers and for those who are venturing into the movie industry.

Actor Prashant Narayanan says the experience of shooting for a power-packed episode of crime-based TV show "Encounter" was as thrilling as working in his 2011 film "Bhindi Baazaar Inc.".

The episode featuring Prashant and Mishal Raheja will narrate the encounter of Shamsher Bhopali, an underworld sharp shooter widely known as the Killing Machine.

Talking about his experience on portraying the character of Shamsher, Prashant said: "Shamsher was a dreaded gangster popularly known as the Killing Machine primarily because of his exceptional shooting skills. My experience of shooting for 'Encounter' has been a great revival of the Hindi thriller 'Bhindi Baazaar Inc.'

The movie "Bhindi Baazaar Inc." was directed by Bhatt.

"Apart from this, I got the opportunity to work with Ankush Bhatt, who had the same passion for a television series as he has for movies. The episode has come out really well and I am sure audiences will love it too," he added.

Boman Irani, who played a corrupt lawyer in "Jolly LLB", is overjoyed at the film being named the Best Hindi Film at the 61st National Film Awards.

Boman believes that the film spoke about change and that's what made it successful.

"'Jolly LLB', just like 'Bhoothnath Returns,' speaks of what the people want to hear. It's about hope, about the system and whether there can be some kind of change in the country," the 54-year-old said here Wednesday at the success party of "Bhoothnath Returns".

"'Jolly LLB' was that kind of film and thankfully, it has won the best Hindi film National award, I am really overjoyed," he added.

Directed by Shubhash Kapoor, "Jolly LLB" starred Arshad Warsi in the lead role and spoke about corruption in the legal system.

Boman believes that just like "Jolly LLB", his latest film "Bhoothnath Returns" is all about good intention cinema and there is a huge scope for such films.

"I think there is hope for good intention cinema in the country," Boman said.

He hoped that "Bhoothnath Returns" gets a National award next year.

"The respect that 'Jolly LLB' has got is only because of it's intentions, like 'Bhoothnath Returns' is also a success because of it's noble intentions and there is a place for such films. I truly believe it might be 'Bhoothnath Returns' next year," he said.

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, "Bhoothnath Returns" features megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the lead.

Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh’s second Marathi venture “Yellow” won the Special Jury and Special Mention awards at the 61st National Film Awards, and the Hindi film fraternity is proud of the “Grand Masti” star.

Here’s what the celebrities posted on Twitter:

Karan Johar: Congratulations Riteish! Proud of you for everything you have achieved as a producer!

Farah Khan: Riteish! ‘Yellow’ won three National Awards? Wow! Many congrats to Mahesh Limaye and you! Party toh banti hain!

Arbaaz Khan: Congratulations to Riteish, Mahesh Limaye (director of ‘Yellow’) and the entire team of ‘Yellow’ for winning three National Awards. Well done and well deserved!

Arjun Rampal: Congrats Riteish. Well done brother for the National Award to you, the whole team of ‘Yellow’. All other winners of the award. Congratulations.

Milap Zaveri: Congrats Riteish for winning a National award for ‘Yellow'. Great honour and well deserved!

Dia Mirza: Riteish so well deserved! Congratulations to the entire team of ‘Yellow’.

Sonal Chauhan: Many congratulations to producer Riteish and the entire team of ‘Yellow’ for the National Award. Truly well deserved.

Actor Purab Kohli says his next project with director Girish Malik will go on the floors towards the end of the year.

This will be Purab's second film with the director, after the recently released "Jal", which has won the National Award for the best film in the special effects category.

" After 'Jal', there is another film with Girish, which should take-off towards the end of the year and that is a really exciting project," the actor told reporters Wednesday at the launch of a luxury fashion brand store here.

"Jal" focussed on the universal issue of water scarcity and featured Purab in the lead role of a water diviner.

The film got a mixed response from the audience, however, but Purab is not bothered and said, "As a piece of cinema, it ('Jal') still fascinates me. When I sit down in a theatre and watch 'Jal', it shakes me up".

Further talking about the response to "Jal", and its director Girish, the actor said: "Some people really loved it, while some criticised Girish's work. But I think it is his style and for me, his style is refreshing and new.

"I look up at these (reactions) as opinions and regard those opinions, but at the same time I think he has made a brilliant film," he added.

Set in the Rann of Kutch, "Jal" released April 4 in India. Earlier, the film had been to various film festivals like Busan Film Festival and International Film Festival of India and won appreciation.

Purab's next is "Tere Aane Se", slated to release in September this year.

Indian filmmaker Kanu Behl's "Titli" has been chosen for screening in Un Certain Regard section of the 67th Cannes International Film Festival, to be held May 14-25.

Backed by Yash Raj Films (YRF) and produced by Dibakar Banerjee, "Titli" revolves around the volatile relationship between two brothers - one of whom runs away from home to escape his oppressive family, but turns to a life of crime. The film stars Ranvir Shorey, Amit Sial and newcomer Shashank Arora.

An excited Ranvir took to Twitter to share his excitement: "Finally Cannes will see something I'm in! So happy and excited! 'Titli' (at) Cannes2014 UnCertainRegard."

In development for over two years, the script for "Titli" was selected for Film Bazaar's Screenwriter's Lab in 2012 and won the Post-Production Award at Film Bazaar's Work-In-Progress Lab in 2013.

Earlier this year, YRF had announced that it had roped in "The Lunchbox" fame producer Guneet Monga to help in the international sales, promotion and festival strategies for "Titli".

The news has given her much reason to cheer.

"'Titli' flies to Cannes. Very, very happy and proud of the director Kanu Behl and producers Dibaker Banerjee Productions and Yash Raj Films. Congratulations," Monga posted on her Facebook page as soon as the news was made official at a press conference in Paris Thursday.

The Un Certain Regard was introduced as a competitive section at the Cannes gala in 1978.

In 1989, Shaji N. Karun’s "Piravi", which was in Un Certain Regard, won a Camera d’Or Special Mention. Ten years later, in 1999, Murali Nair’s "Marana Simhasanam" won another Caméra d’or.