Karnataka State Film Awards 2019: Sudeep, Anupama win top honours

Actors Sudeep and Anupama Gowda have been adjudged the best actor and best actress, respectively, as the Karnataka State Film Awards for 2019 were announced on Wednesday evening. While Sudeep won the award for his performance in the sports drama Pailwaan, Anupama clinched the honour for her dual role in the thriller Trayambakam. The government attributed the five-year delay to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is yet to announce awards for 2020 to 2024.
An overwhelmed Anupama shares, “When I heard the news, I was shaking and was actually feeling uneasy. I am yet to take it all in. Winning a state award is no small thing, and I think I will know the weightage of this award only when I receive it on the stage. To see my name in the list of people that includes national award winners like Tara itself is an honour.”

“I thought I would get an award for Aa Karaala Ratri, and was expecting a lot would change for me professionally. But nothing of that sort happened and most scripts I received were stereotypical and repetitive. I had lost all hopes, and I haven’t acted in a single film in six years. Hopefully this (the award) will change things for me, and will help filmmakers see me in a fresh light,” she adds.
People were seen crying in theatres during this song: Raghu Dixit

I am pleasantly surprised, especially as it has come after 5 years. This song (Kanna Haniyondhu) is very special because this particular melody was composed almost 20 years ago. I recalled it from my memory and added it to the film and it fit right in as it is placed in a crucial part of the narration, reflecting the state of the mind of the lead character (played by Krishna). People were seen crying in theatres during this song. The credit equally goes to lyricist Raghavendra Kamath, whose lyrics only made the song powerful. He is an equal shareholder for the success of this song, as well as for the response it has received.
–Raghu Dixit, on winning Best Singer (Male) for the song Kanna Haniyondhu, in Love Mocktail
Triple treat for Mohandas and Love Mocktail

Mohandas, a film director by P Sheshadri, won Best Film, as well as Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography. Love Mocktail, the hit romantic comedy starring Krishna and Milana Nagaraj, was picked as the second best film. The film also bagged the best screenplay award (for Krishna), and the best playback singer male award, with Raghu Dixit being named the winner.