The 66th National Film awards were announced on Friday. Marathi film Paani received the Best Film on Environment Conservation award and the makers of the film can't hold their excitement. The film is produced by Purple Pebble Pictures (Priyanka Chopra and Dr. Madhu Chopra) and directed by debutant filmmaker Adinath Kothare.  

Paani is Purple Pebble Pictures' fourth Marathi venture post national award-winning Ventilator, Kaay Re Rascala and Firebrand. The movie featuring Adinath Kothare, Rucha Vaidya, Subodh Bhave, Kishor Kadam and Girish Joshi, was based on true events and the problem of water scarcity in Nagdarwadi, which is a drought-prone area of Maharashtra.

Says Priyanka Chopra, “When we started Purple Pebble Pictures, it was with the clear intent to produce stories of substance. We wanted to tell local stories that along with entertaining people, also had a purpose and tackled the pressing issues we face today. Paani was one such film… one that I knew instantly that I wanted to make.  Even though Adinath was making his directorial debut with, I knew he would be a force to reckon with. And now here we are with a National Award for our labour of love.” 

She further added, “I couldn’t be more proud of Adinath and his creative team and my team at PPP. My sincere gratitude to the jury for recognising our hard work and awarding Paani with the Best Feature Film on Environment Conservation. It has given us further impetus to continue on the path of telling the stories that combine entertainment with socially relevant stories. We are so honoured that the film had an impact and that our efforts have been recognised.”

Adds Dr Madhu Chopra, “It’s a huge honor! I’m grateful to the National Award jury for bestowing one of the most respectable laurels on us. The subject of Paani is very close to our heart and it’s a story that needs to be told. We are proud to associate with Adinath Kothare who has beautifully translated the serious subject so convincingly on screen. The credit goes to the entire team.”