President Murmu Celebrates Indian Cinema’s Finest in Star-Studded Ceremony
New Delhi, Sept 23: In a dazzling ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the 71st National Film Awards, celebrating the rich tapestry of Indian cinema.
The event spotlighted not only cinematic excellence but also the industry’s evolving role in shaping societal narratives and national unity.
The evening’s pinnacle was the conferment of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award to Malayalam legend Mohanlal, lauded for his four-decade journey from theatre to global acclaim.
His performances in Vanaprastham and Karnabharam were hailed as cultural milestones.
Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey shared the Best Actor honour for Jawan and 12th Fail respectively, while Rani Mukerji won Best Actress for her emotionally charged role in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway.
The awards also recognised:
- 12th Fail as Best Feature Film
- Flowering Man as Best Non-Feature Film
- God Vulture and Human as Best Documentary
- Hanu-Man as Best AVGC Film
- Giddh: The Scavenger as Best Short Film
Union I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced strategic initiatives, including:
- Indigenous film equipment production
- Strengthening the live concert ecosystem
- Launching the International Institute of Cinema and Technology (IICT) in Mumbai with global tech giants
President Murmu emphasised cinema’s power to educate, awaken, and unify, while calling for greater representation of women both on-screen and behind the scenes.
The theme, “Ek Desh, Hazaron Kahaniyan, Ek Junoon”, echoed throughout the evening, reaffirming cinema’s role as a mirror to India’s democratic and cultural spirit.
