68th National Film Awards: Suriya thanks team, friends, family, and anbaana fans for Soorarai Pottru win

The 68th National Awards were announced earlier today, and it was almost a clinical day at the office for South Cinema. One of the biggest winners of the awards was Soorarai Pottru, which won Best Film, Best Actor (Suriya), Best Actress (Aparna Balamurali), Best Background score (GV Prakash Kumar), and Best Screenplay (Shalini and Sudha). 

Even as praises came the way for the cast and crew of this inspiring biopic, Suriya responded to all the love with a heartfelt statement that was released on all his social media accounts. 

In this statement, Suriya wrote, "Vanakkam! My heartfelt thanks for all the love and good wishes that has reached us and enriched our lives so far. We are ecstatic with the five National awards for Soorarai Pottru. The overwhelming reception for our film, which was released directly on OTT during a pandemic, has made our eyes well up in joy. Our happiness is doubled at this National recognition for Soorarai Pottru, as it is a testimony of Sudha Kongara's many years of hardwork and creative vision of Captain Gopinath's story."

Sending congratulatory messages to his fellow winners from team Soorarai Pottru, Suriya said, "My sincere appreciation and gratitude to all the talents who stood by us during the making of this good film. The Best Film award is a great recognition for team 2D and I thank them along with my best friend & CEO Rajsekar KarpoorasundaraPandian."

Suriya, who made his debut with director Vasanth's Nerukku Ner, extended his gratitude to the filmmaker and his first producer Mani Ratnam for trusting the actor in him and placing their faith on his debut.  He also gave a shoutout to other winners of the National Awards 2020, and said, "My heartiest congratulations to my fellow Best Actor winner Ajay Devgn and other National award winners from Tamilnadu, Filmmaker Vasanth Sai, Editor Sreekar Prasad, Actor Lakshmi Priya Chandramouli, Filmmaker Madonne Ashwin and other award-winners from other States of our country."

The actor-filmmaker showered praise on his wife and fellow actor-filmmaker Jyotika for urging him to back the project. "My love and 'Thank You' to all those who have encouraged my efforts so far and to my Amma & Appa, Karthi & Brinda, who have supported me always. I dedicate this award to my kids Diya and Dev and to my loving family," said Suriya, who went on to thank his 'Anbaana fans' on this joyous occasion. 

"I share this joyous moment with all my brothers and sisters who are out there, who have shown me immense love and acceptance right through my career. My heartfelt thanks to you all my #anbaanafans The National Award gives me the motivation to work harder and walk my talk... and give you all good films, now & always. My sincere thanks to the Government of India and the National Awards Jury for this high recognition of our work. I once again thank each and everyone of you for your love & good wishes," signed off Suriya.

It was a momentous occasion for Tamil cinema as this year became one of the richest hauls for the industry. 

Meanwhile, on the acting front, Suriya will next be seen in Bala's Vanangaan, Vetri Maaran's Vaadivaasal and a couple of other projects currently in various stages of production.