India, July 19 -- Aanand L Rai was in an edit room on Saturday evening working on a film, and when he exited the room, he was a National Award-winning director. At the 72nd National Film Awards announced on Saturday, Aanand L Rai won Nest Director in the non-feature film category for Statue Of Unity: Ekta Ka Prateek. As he talks to us, the excitement is palpable in his voice.

"It comes like a blessing that the intent you did your work with, it is appreciated for that intent as someone is watching it. It's a blessing," he says, recalling how he got the big news. "Just half an hour before the announcement, there were whispers that something special might be there. But I had to go to an edit room just before the announcement. I went in at 5...