Kalpana Lajmi’s Daman released in May, 2001 and got slammed when Raveena Tandon was given the National award for best actress over Madhuri Dixit in Pukar and Tabu in Astitva.In an exclusive interview with this writer Vyjayanthimala who headed the jury for the National awards in 2001, defended the award, “I’ve seen all the performances. What the jury members and I felt about Raveena’s performance was, that it was totally unexpected from her. Daman completely changes her glamorous image. She has dared to play an abused wife and the mother of a grownup daughter.  When at the end she assumes the personality of Goddess Durga, we thought Raveena had outdone herself.”Vyjayanthimala criticised the direction. “I must also add that Kalpana Lajmi inspite of being a renowned director, hasn’t done full justice to the theme. The film was quite shoddy. The cinematography and music do not rise to occasion. Raveena carries off the role remarkably in spite of these drawbacks. She had to get credit for that. As for Tabu in Astitva and Karisma Kapoor in Zubeida, they are both acknowledged artistes. They both had powerful roles, dialogues, scripts and music in Astitva and Zubeida. But give this girl (Raveena) the credit for working against several odds. Why shouldn’t we give her the award? I’m totally in sympathy with my jury members.”Scoffing the view that she had towed her party BJP’s line, Vyjayanthimala said, “If the awards went to Anil Kapoor for Pukar, and Raveena it was because they deserved it, and not because I was part of a conspiracy to make them win. Agreeing with the majority’s decision doesn’t make me hand-in-glove with anyone. I don’t know Raveena. I’ve never met her. I didn’t even know MacMohan was related to her. All this has nothing to do with me. I went by pure merit. I liked Anil’s and Raveena’s performance immensely. I also loved the film Bharathi, its recreation of period was so vivid. I’m glad it has won the award for best regional film. I’ve been true to my conscience, and I stand by all the awards. If some of the jury members weren’t qualified for their jobs who am I to comment on that? They were all selected by the Directorate of the Festival. I’ve done full justice to two fine artistes — Anil Kapoor and Raveena Tandon.”