‘96’ director Prem Kumar wins Gollapudi Srinivas Award

The 22nd Gollapudi Srinivas Award for the Best Debut Film has been bagged by C Prem Kumar for his debut film ‘96’. The film was selected by the members of the Gollapudi Srinivas Memorial Foundation from among 10 nominations in various languages from all over the country. Janaki Vishwanathan had won the award for her debut Tamil film ‘Kutty’ in 2001, and after 18 long years, the award now returns to Tamil cinema with Prem Kumar's win for ‘96’ in Tamil.
‘96’, a romantic drama, is a nostalgic journey down memory lane revolving around a photographer and his old flame. The committee described the film as a "path-breaking film for patriarchal Indian cinema". A cinematographer-turned-filmmaker, Prem Kumar has helmed the camera for acclaimed movies like ‘Pasanga’ (2009), ‘Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom’ (2012) and ‘Sundarapandian’ (2012). His directorial debut, ‘96’, which he also wrote, starred Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha in the lead roles.
The award comprising a cash prize of Rs 1,50,000 and a memento will be presented at a ceremony to be held on August 12, 2019.
Established in 1998, the Gollapudi Srinivas Award envisages to perpetuate the memory of Gollapudi Srinivas a young director, who tragically passed away in an accident during the shoot of his maiden venture in 1992. The award is announced annually on March 17 and presented on August 12 each year. This award serves as a huge incentive for debutant directors who have laboured long and hard to translate their ideas onto celluloid. Past winners of this award include prominent names like Aamir Khan (‘Taare Zameen Par’) and Konkana Sen Sharma (‘A Death In The Gunj’).