Mumbai: Adil Hussain, who has films like Ishqiya, Life of Pi and the recent English Vinglish (as Sri Devi‘s husband) in his kitty, has bagged the best actor award for his role in Unni Vijayan‘s Lessons in Forgetting at the recently held New Jersey Independent South Asian Cine Festival (NJISACF).

The film, that is an adaptation of Anita Nair‘s book by the same name, is a gripping and heartwarming story of redemption, forgiveness and second chances. Meera‘s (Achreja) life is shaken up when her husband walks out on their marriage.

Responsible not just for her children but her mother, grandmother and their rambling old family home in Bangalore, Meera takes up a part time job with Professor J A Krishnamurthy, or JAK, a renowned cyclone studies expert (Hussain).

What she doesn‘t know is that JAK is seeking the truth behind the vicious attack on his 19-year-old daughter, Smriti (Maya Tideman). However, a wall of silence and fear surrounds the incident.

Driven by the need to know the truth he explores the events that lead up to the incident. In the process he gains an insight into his daughter‘s world.

Through a series of coincidences, Meera and JAK find their lives turning and twisting together and as the days pass, fresh beginnings appear where there seemed to be only endings.

Roshni Achreja was feted as best supporting actress for the same film.

The annual NJISACF is held to promote and recognise the talents of the new, the established, the underrepresented, the best and the brightest independent South Asian filmmakers from across the globe.