The 68th National Awards have been announced today and as expected Suriya has bagged the Best Actor Award for 'Soorarai Pottru'. The critically acclaimed film loosely based on the life of aviation pioneer G.R, Gopinath produced by Suriya was also named Best Picture. The recognition comes as a grand birthday treat for the hard working star actor who turns 46 on July 23rd.

'Soorarai Pottru' also got the Best Screenplay Award for director Sudha Kongara, Best Actress Award for Aparna Balamurali and Best Background score for G.V. Prakash Kumar.

'Soorarai Pottru' was released directly on Amazon Prime Video in 2020 and recieved high critical acclaim as well as record breaking viewership. Suriya played Maara a common man based on Air Deccan owner G.R. Gopinath who dreamed of owning an airline company to cater to middle class people and achieved it at all costs. Aparna Balamurali played the character of Bommi the wife of Maara who backed her man.

Ajay Devgan has also been named the Best Actor along with Suriya for 'Tanhaji -The Unsung Hero'. Thaman received the Best Music Director award for his Telugu film 'Ala Vaikundapurathulo' starring Allu Arjun and Pooja Hegde.

Director Vasanth's 'Sivaranjaniyum Sila Pengalum' has received the Best Film in Tamil. The female centric film stars Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli as Sivaranjini, Parvathy Thiruvothu as Devaki, Kalieswari Srinivasan as Saraswati and Karunakaran.