Soorarai Pottru': All about the Suriya-starrer that won big at the National Awards

Tamil film "Soorarai Pottru" ( Praise the Brave) was the biggest winner at the 68th National Film Awards for 2020 announced on Friday, bagging seven honours in all.

The film, partly inspired by the life of Air Deccan founder Captain G R Gopinath, won the national award for the best feature film. Suriya, who played Nedumaaran Rajangam (Maara), a character inspired by the life of Captain Gopinath won the national award for the best actor. Aparrna Balamurali , for her role of Sundari "Bommi" Nedumaaran, won the Best Actress prize.

The film won Best Screenplay for Shalini Usha Nair and director Sudha Kongara. GV Prakash Kumar won the award for Best Music Direction (Background Score).


Many of the scenes in the film are inspired by events noted by Captain Gopinath in his memoir Simply Fly: A Deccan Odyssey. It's a story about how Nedumaaran Rajangam, a former Indian Air Force captain who dreams of starting a low-cost carrier airline, fights financial hurdles, intrigue and ridicule to make his dream come through.


The film is also being remade in Hindi, with Sudha Kongara again helming it. Akshay Kumar who plays the lead role in the Hindi remake tweeted: "Over the moon to see #SooraraiPottru win the top honours at the National Awards. Heartfelt congratulations my brother @Suriya_offl, #AparrnaBalamurali and my director #SudhaKongara. Humbled to be working in the Hindi adaptation of such an iconic film."

Hours before the National Awards were announced, Soorarai Pottru was already trending on Twitter in India, with Suriya fans sensing the movie was going to emerge a winner. The movie ended the evening with a rich haul of five awards.