Make-up
artist
Raja
never
imagined
that
someday
in
his
life
he
would
win
a
National
Award.
In
fact,
when
the
awards
were
announced
last
evening
and
his
work
was
recognised,
Raja
did
not
believe
it
and
it
took
a
few
calls
to
convince
him
that
he
actually
won
the
National
Award
for
best
make-up
artist
for
Tamil
teen
crime-thriller
Vazhakku
En
18/9.
"Initially
when
someone
called
me
to
tell
me
the
news,
I
thought
it
was
a
prank.
However,
it
was
only
after
the
calls
started
pouring
in
that
I
was
convinced
I
had
indeed
won
the
award.
I
have
received
such
an
honour
after
33
years
in
the
industry," Raja
told
IANS.
"Thanks
to
this
award,
I
suppose
at
least
now
a
bunch
of
people
will
recognize
me
for
the
work
I
have
been
doing
for
so
many
years," he
added.
How
many
films
have
he
worked
as
make-up
artist?
"I'm
sorry,
I
seriously
didn't
keep
track
of
the
number
of
films.
Had
I
known
that
some
day
I
would
be
asked
this
question
after
winning
the
nation
award,
I
would
have
kept
track
of
the
number
of
films," he
added.
Continue
reading
the
story
on
the
slideshow...
A
Still
From
Vazhakku
En
18/9
Raja
claims
that
he
has
worked
in
recent
Tamil
films
such
as
Vennila
Kabadi
Kuzhu,
Naan
Mahaan
Alla
and
Azhagarsamiyin
Kuthirai.
Vazhakku
En
18/9
directed
by
Balaji
Sakthivel,
also
won
the
National
Award
for
best
feature
film
in
Tamil.
A
Still
From
Vazhakku
En
18/9
On
the
other
end,
Poornima
Ramaswamy,
after
winning
the
National
Award
for
best
costume
designer
for
Tamil
period-drama
Paradesi,
headed
straight
to
director
Bala's
residence.
A
Still
From
Paradesi
"I'm
honoured
to
receive
a
National
Award
for
my
debut
film.
How
many
would
be
blessed
with
such
an
honour
for
their
first
film?
I'm
on
my
way
to
Bala
sir's
house
to
share
my
happiness
with
him
because
had
not
it
been
for
him,
I
would
have
been
nobody," Poornima
told
IANS.
A
Still
From
Paradesi
"Besides
Bala
sir,
I
have
to
credit
my
team
that
was
involved
in
the
research
work
for
getting
everything
in
place
for
my
work.
It
is
a
period
film
and,
therefore,
a
lot
of
research
work
was
needed
to
be
executed
with
so
many
deadlines," she
added.
A
Still
From
Vishwaroopam
Other
Tamil
films
that
were
honoured
with
the
National
awards
include
Vishwaroopam
for
Art
Direction
and
Best
Cinematography.