http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/01/stories/2008060154360400.htm
Laurel for a debutante K. Santhosh Devi Chandrasekhar has won the Goa State Film Award for the Best Actress for her performance in Konkani film Vizmit. Devi Chandrasekhar Thrissur: A Malayali has won the Goa State Film Award for the Best Actress. Devi Chandrasekhar, who lives in Irinjalakkuda, near here, won the prize for her performance in the Konkani film, 'Vizmit' (Miracle), directed by Mahaysh Rane (an alumnus of Film and Television Institute of India, Pune). The film was also named the second best and won awards in the categories of the Second Best Director and the Best Story. The Fourth Goa State Film Awards were declared and presented at the Kala Academy in Panaji on May 30. Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and filmmaker Shekhar Kapur were the guests of honour. Five films had competed for the best film prize. They were 'Antarnad', 'Vizmit', 'Zuzari', 'Ordem Chador' and 'Bhitorlem Manacho Munis'. A jury comprising Nitin Keni, Devi Dutt, Olivin Gomes and V.R. Naik decided the awards. 'Vizmit' is Ms. Chandrasekhar's debut film in Konkani. "An award for one's maiden film is very special," she told The Hindu over telephone from Panaji. Born and brought up in Goa, she is a post-graduate in zoology. She was ranked third in Goa University examinations. She is a well-known singer in Konkani, a disciple of Hindustani maestro Vasantrao Khadnekar, and has several albums to her credit. Her family moved to Irinjalakkuda a few months ago after her father's retirement from Goa State Police. The family owns a house in Panaji, and Ms. Chandrasekhar divides her time between Goa and Kerala. Last year, she taught Communicative English in Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Kolazhi, near here. She is one of the presenters of Asianet's Idea Star Singer 2008. 'Vizmit' was shot in Goa and Mangalore. It tells the story of a Catholic nun who is caught between the temptations of life and spiritual asceticism. She escapes from the convent, but returns to embrace nun-hood through a miracle. "The film captures the beauty of Goa's churches and beaches, and the power of faith," she says.
