The producers and artists from the country have written a letter to the Directorate of Film Festival, President's office, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to express that they feel disheartened rather than honoured.
More than 60 filmmakers and artists decided not to attend the most honourable 65th National Film Awards ceremony which was held at Vigyan Bhawan on May 3 i.e. Thursday where President Ram Nath Kovind was going to award the recipients. The awardees have condemned the award ceremony as a breach of trust.
The producers and artists from the country have written a letter to the Directorate of Film Festival, President's office, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to express that they feel disheartened rather than honoured. As on Wednesday, the awardees were informed that a large segment of the awards will not be presented by the President. They discussed the matter with BJP Cabinet Minister Smriti Irani the same evening and were promised a response.
The letter read, "In the circumstance of not receiving a response to our grievance, we are left with no option but to be absent for the ceremony. We do not intend to boycott the award, but are not attending the ceremony to convey our discontent and are awaiting a more just solution. It feels like a breach of trust when an institution/ceremony that abides by extreme protocol, fails to inform of such a vital aspect of the ceremony with prior notice. It seems unfortunate that 65 years of tradition are being overturned in a jiffy. We are disheartened to know that we will be deprived of the honour of this appreciation of a once-in-a-lifetime moment of pride and glory that the National Film Awards had promised us.”
The undersigned awardees have urged that the dignity and reputation of the National Awards be maintained and there was no display of hierarchy. Personalities like Riddhi Sen, Divya Dutta, Rima Das, Pankaj Tripathi, K.J. Yesudas, Jayaraj and Bhanita Das were seen taking early seats today at the National award ceremony.
The President gave the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Nargis Dutt Award for Feature Films on National Integration, Best Book on Cinema, Best Direction (non-feature film), Best Jasari Film, Best Male Playback Singer, Best Music Direction (songs and background music), Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Direction (feature film), Best Feature Film and Best Editing. Rest all 137 awards were given by the Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani.
More than 60 filmmakers and artists decided not to attend the most honourable 65th National Film Awards ceremony which was held at Vigyan Bhawan on May 3 i.e. Thursday where President Ram Nath Kovind was going to award the recipients. The awardees have condemned the award ceremony as a breach of trust.
The producers and artists from the country have written a letter to the Directorate of Film Festival, President's office, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to express that they feel disheartened rather than honoured. As on Wednesday, the awardees were informed that a large segment of the awards will not be presented by the President. They discussed the matter with BJP Cabinet Minister Smriti Irani the same evening and were promised a response.
The letter read, "In the circumstance of not receiving a response to our grievance, we are left with no option but to be absent for the ceremony. We do not intend to boycott the award, but are not attending the ceremony to convey our discontent and are awaiting a more just solution. It feels like a breach of trust when an institution/ceremony that abides by extreme protocol, fails to inform of such a vital aspect of the ceremony with prior notice. It seems unfortunate that 65 years of tradition are being overturned in a jiffy. We are disheartened to know that we will be deprived of the honour of this appreciation of a once-in-a-lifetime moment of pride and glory that the National Film Awards had promised us.”
The undersigned awardees have urged that the dignity and reputation of the National Awards be maintained and there was no display of hierarchy. Personalities like Riddhi Sen, Divya Dutta, Rima Das, Pankaj Tripathi, K.J. Yesudas, Jayaraj and Bhanita Das were seen taking early seats today at the National award ceremony.
The President gave the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Nargis Dutt Award for Feature Films on National Integration, Best Book on Cinema, Best Direction (non-feature film), Best Jasari Film, Best Male Playback Singer, Best Music Direction (songs and background music), Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Direction (feature film), Best Feature Film and Best Editing. Rest all 137 awards were given by the Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani.