National Film Awards breaks with 64-year-old tradition; winners boycott ceremony
The 65th National Film Awards, held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, has been marred with controversy. As many as 50 winners skipped the ceremony after they were told that breaking with the tradition, President Ram Nath Kovind will only give away 11 out of 70 awards. Let down with the decision, the awardees did not show up for the prestigious event.
The latest edition of the distinguished awards ceremony was divided into two phases. It began at around 4:00 pm with Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Smriti Irani and her junior Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore handing out most of the trophies. President Kovind arrived at the venue at 5:30 pm and distributed the rest of the awards.
To express their disappointment, the awardees decided to write a letter to the Directorate of Film Festival, Office of the President of India and the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. "It feels like a breach of trust when an institution/ceremony that abides by extreme protocol fails to inform us of such a vital aspect of the ceremony with a prior notice," the letter read.
Boney Kapoor, who collected his late wife Sridevi's National Award from the President, was of the viewpoint that it is the recognition of your work that counts and nothing else. "I would have been equally happy if the I&B Minister had given me the award. It is ultimately the recognition of your work. I don't understand what the fuss is about," he said.
