Big B favourite in National Award race

New Delhi:There has been much speculation about the annual National Film Awards that are likely to be announced on Thursday. Sources have told CNN-IBN that superstar Amitabh Bachchan is likely to win the best actor award for his sensitive portrayal of a tutor in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black, while Sarika is in the race for the best actress honour for Parzania - a film based on 2002 Gujarat riots. Legendary yesteryear actress Suchitra Sen is likely to win the Dada Saheb Phalke Award – the country’s highest honour in the field of cinema. Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah is understood to have won the Best Supporting Actor for his role as a cricket coach in Nagesh Kukunoor’s Iqbal – a story of a deaf-mute aspiring cricketer. While Rahul Dholakia is said to have got the Best Director honour for Parzania, Bengali film Kalpurush - starring Mithun Chakravarty - has been adjudged the Best Film. Sources say that Bhansali’s Black has won in the Best Hindi Film category while Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra’s pioneering venture - Rang De Basanti has won the award for wholesome entertainment. The Best English language National Film Award has been given to Aparna Sen’s 15 Park Avenue - starring daughter Konkona Sen as a schizophrenic. The official announcement is likely to be made on Thursday afternoon. The roll call so far: Best Actor: Amitabh Bachchan (Black) Best Actress: Sarika (Parzania) Best Supporting Actor: Naseeruddin Shah (Iqbal) Best Director: Rahul Dholakia (Parzania) Best Hindi Feature Film: Black Best English Language National Film: 15 Park Avenue Best Film: Kalpurush