President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday presented screen icon Waheeda Rehman the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award and honoured other winners of the 69th National Film Awards, including popular stars Allu Arjun, Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon .
The National Film Awards were announced in August honouring the best in cinema for the year 2021.
At the ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan here, Murmu said cinema is not just an industry limited to business and entertainment.
“Films are the most effective medium to spread awareness and sensitivity. Meaningful films depict the achievements as well as the problems of the society and the country,” the president said in her speech.
“The film fraternity gives us a vivid introduction to the diverse reality of Indian society through their films. Cinema is both a document of our society and a medium to improve it. Cinema artists are agents of change. They provide information about the country and connect citizens,” she added.
The president congratulated Rehman for receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, adding the actor had reached the pinnacle of the film industry with her talent and personality.
“She has lived her personal life also with dignity, self-confidence and originality. She chose many such films in which her role broke the barriers associated with women. She has set an example that women themselves should take initiative for women empowerment,” Murmu said.
Rehman, 85, dedicated the award to her “dear film industry” and its various departments.
“I feel very honoured and humbled… But whatever I have achieved today, it is because of my dear film industry. Luckily, I got to work with top directors, producers, filmmakers, technicians, writers, dialogue writers, music directors and musicians,” Rehman said in her acceptance speech.
“I got a lot of support, respect and love from them,” she said, also crediting the make-up artists, hair and costume designers. “…Which is why I am sharing this award with all the departments of the film industry… A film is not made by just one person, we need each other,” the actor, who received a standing ovation, further said.
While Arjun won the best actor award for the Telugu film “Pushpa: The Rise”, the best actress honour was shared by Alia and Kriti for Hindi films “Gangubai Kathaiwadi” and “Mimi”, respectively. This is the first National Award for all three actors.
The auditorium erupted with cheers as a clip of “Pushpa: The Rise” played when Allu Arjun walked up to the stage. But the loudest cheers were reserved for the winners of “RRR” and “Pushpa: The Rise” in different categories. Allu Arjun was spotted clicking pictures of other awardees from the Telugu industry.
“Honoured to receive the National Award. I want to thank the jury, the ministry, the Government of India, for this recognition. This award is not only a personal milestone, but belongs to all people who have supported and cherished our cinema. Thank you, (director) Sukumar garu. You are the reason behind my achievement,” the movie star posted on X.
Alia, who was dressed in her ivory wedding saree as she attended the ceremony with actor-husband Ranbir Kapoor, also expressed gratitude. Ranbir was seen capturing his wife’s moment of glory from the audience seat.
“(I feel) thrilled, grateful and honoured,” Alia told PTI.
“I am feeling very blessed and overwhelmed. This was a special moment as it was for ‘Mimi’ and also because my parents were here watching me,” Kriti said.
Her parents, Geeta and Rahul Sanon, were over the moon.
“From a little girl to here, she’s come a long way. This is just the beginning. Hope she wins many more such awards,” Geeta Sanon told PTI.
Actor-filmmaker R Madhavan received the National Award for best feature film for his directorial debut “Rocketry: The Nambi Effect”, based on the life of Nambi Narayanan, a former aerospace engineer of the Indian Space Research Organisation. (PTI)
