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President Ram Nath Kovind presented the National Awards in 11 categories on Thursday, 3 May, amid controversy over his apparent snub.
Prior to Kovind, Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore had given out the awards in the first phase of the ceremony.
Just hours before the ceremony, more than 70 recipients had conveyed their intention to not attend it on Thursday, a day after they were informed that President Ram Nath Kovind would be presenting only 11 awards.
In a letter written to Chaitanya Prasad, Additional Director General, Directorate of Film Festival, along with the President’s office and the Information & Broadcasting Ministry, the recipients said they were “disheartened” and “disappointed” with the development.
The letter also stated that despite discussing the matter with I&B Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday and being promised of a reply, they were not given one. It had also clarified that while they were planning to be absent for the awards ceremony, they “do not intend to boycott the award”.
However, a few of the recipients who had signed the letter were seen attending the awards ceremony eventually.
Meanwhile, expressing "surprise" at the “11th hour questions”, Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a statement that the President attends all award functions for a maximum of one hour and this was conveyed to the I&B Ministry, reported PTI.
Among the signatories to the letter were noted singer KJ Yesudas, named this year's best playback singer, Bengali filmmaker Kaushik Ganguly, whose film "Nagarkirtan" has been named the best Bengali film, and winner of the best supporting actor award, Fahadh Faasil.
Director NR Nanjunde Gowda, whose film "Hebbettu Ramakka" was named best Kannada film, said this was breaking convention.
On Wednesday, there were reports of chaos at the rehearsal ceremony for the National Film Awards, arising out of the same issue.
The Quint had learned that soon after everyone was seated for the rehearsal on Wednesday, Prasad proceeded to make some announcements. He said there was going to be some deviation from previous years and awards would be given out in two parts.
The awards are traditionally presented by the President of India. However, this year, the President reportedly had only an hour to spare for the ceremony.
For the past 64 years, it is the President who has always presented the National Awards. And this year too, the email sent out to the recipients clearly stated that the President would be giving away the awards.
People had flown in from various parts of the country (the film division takes care of the air travel and stay for the winners – their guests have to make their own arrangements) in the expectation that they will be awarded by the President.
While Prasad had failed to calm the tempers of the awardees on Wednesday, he had said that Irani would be coming in herself to pacify the attendees and keep them from boycotting the ceremony.
Most awardees had waited till the rehearsals were over to question the additional director general. Once Boney Kapoor and his daughters left the venue, several people asked Prasad why this decision had been taken.
Shortly after that, Irani reached the venue and told the attendees that the President’s office had given them just one hour for the ceremony and they had to make the best use of his time. She added that she is a mere minister and could not defy the constitutional authority of the President.
However, the minister had failed to answer the following questions: If the President’s office had made it clear he had little time for the awards, why were they conducted on the day they were? Why were the awardees not informed in time that they would not receive the award from President Kovind? Why were invites sent specifying the President’s name?
The 65th National Film Awards were announced on 13 April by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
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In a breakthrough moment for Assamese cinema, Rima Das' directorial Village Rockstars was named the Best Feature Film.
Here are the 11 awards which were presented by the President of India at the ceremony on Thursday, as per the programme.
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