Birat awards conclude: Keki & Bijay bag top acting honors

KATHMANDU: The 4th Birat Film & Music Awards was successfully held at the Film Development Board Auditorium, honoring Nepali artists in cinema and music with grandeur and elegance.

The event took place under the esteemed presence of Hon. Anil Kumar Sinha, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, and special guest Dinesh DC, Chairperson of the Film Development Board.

Organized by Celebrity Nepal Foundation, the awards recognized outstanding contributions in 36 categories across music and film. According to coordinator Suraj Paudel, 24 awards were presented in music and 12 in film.

Entries from films and music released in 2081 BS were shortlisted, and five top nominations in each category were carefully selected.

The Film Development Board also collaborated in making the event a success.

The awards also recognized lifetime achievements and journalistic contributions. Veteran artist and director Subhash Gajurel received the Lifetime Achievement Award along with Rs 25,555, while journalist Shree Krishna Bhattarai was honored with a Journalism Award and Rs 11,111.

The ceremony was presided over by Raghunath Sapkota, President of Celebrity Nepal Foundation, and included the recognition of luminaries like writer-director Kaji Limbu, actor Shreya Dulal, and producers Sunita Sapkota and Ram Narayan Upadhyaya, as well as Bijan Shrestha.

The jury panel included prominent industry figures: director-editor Raksha Singh Rana, cinematographer Shiva Dhakal, lyricist Pramod Dhungana, director Rishi Lamichhane, writer-director Amardeep Sapkota, and singer Navin Kumar Paudel.

Film Awards Winners:

• Best Film: Satidevi

• Best Director: Milan Chams (Anjila)

• Best Actor: Bijay Baral (Purna Bahadurko Sarangi)

• Best Actress: Keki Adhikari (Boksi Ko Ghar)

• Best Supporting Actress: Srijana Adhikari (Satidevi)

• Best Cinematographer: Purushottam Pradhan (Pitambar)

• Best Editor: Sandesh Shah (Jwaai Saav)

• Best Music Composer: Ashish Aviral Raiya Chandi Ko (Purna Bahadurko Sarangi)

• Best Supporting Actor: Kameshwar Chaurasia (Pheri Resham Filili)

• Best Screenplay & Dialogue: Laxman Subedi (Satidevi)

• Best Art/Color Design: Rajendra Moktan (Anjila)

• Encouragement Award (Child Artists): Manjila Baniya & Harshika Oli (Satidevi)

Music Awards Winners:

• Best Male Singer (Modern): Sudhraj Shekhar Sharma (Ke Chha Sannani)

• Jury Award (Music): Shashi Bikram Thapa (Timrai Karan)

• Best Female Singer (Modern): Anju Pant (Thahai Thiena Dil)

• Best Music Composer: Manoj Chaulagain

• Best Lyricist (Modern): Pratima Gurung (Na Jiuna Sake Na Marn Sake)

• Jury Award (Lyricist): Sarita Sapkota (Bekhabar)

• Best Male Model (Modern): Madhav KC (Ajambari Maya)

• Jury Award (Model): Aryan Raut (Pir Parya Chha)

• Public Choice Award: Ishwar Vallabh Upreti (Aadat Banyau)

• Best Female Model (Modern): Sneha Gautam (Timro Jhalko)

• Best Makeup Artist: Priya Nagarkoti (Mero Ghar Ko Muntira)

• Best Music Video Director: Rajendra Basnet (Mero Ghar Ko Muntira)

• Jury Award (Video Director): Vinay Raj Paudel (Herda Herdai)

• Best Cinematographer (Music Video): Madan Kashyap Ghimire (Ajambari Maya)

• Best Lyricist (Pop): Anup Maharjan (Andhyaro Raatma)

• Best Folk Singer: Chandra Lama (Mutuma Baseki Maya)

• Best Cinematographer (Pop Video): Milan Thapa ‘Shant’ (Andhyaro Raatma)

• Best Model (Bhojpuri): Saddam Hussain (Kamar Dhake)

• Best Lyricist (Ghazal): Tularam Lamichhane (Samaya Kharab Chha)

• Best Choreographer (Music Video): Suresh Pande (Jawani Le Polyo)

• Best Folk-Pop Singer: Dinesh Bharti (Chandrakumari)

• Best Actor (Language Film): Rajkumar Lingden (Talas)

• Best Model (Language Song): Bipana Angwuhang (Sungurko Masuma)

• Best Director (Language Film): Dinesh Lingden (Duspraayas)