National Film Awards for the year 2017 were presented on Thursday in New Delhi. Close to 60 Award Winners skipped the ceremony after learning that President Ramnath Kovind will present the awards for only 11 Winners. Most of the awards were presented by I&B Minister Smriti Irani and MoS for I&B Ministry Rajyavardhan Rathore.
In a letter addressed to the President and Government of India, Artistes complained, 'We had reached out to Smriti Irani and expressed our dissatisfaction. However, We didn't receive a proper response. We feel dejected rather than honoured for our work'.
Filmmaker Praveen Morchhale complains what has happened is discrimination and division of film celebs into classes.
Producer Manish Mundra, who won Best Hindi Film award for 'Newton', opined: 'National Awards has got an intrinsic value just because they were presented by the President. Otherwise, It's just one of those many film awards announced in the country'.
Whereas, President's Office clarified Ramnath Kovind hasn't attended any award function for more than an hour and it's a protocol.
11 Film Personalities who were lucky enough to receive national awards from President include Vinod Khanna, Sridevi and AR Rahman. Family Members accepted awards of late Vinod Khanna and Sridevi.
In a letter addressed to the President and Government of India, Artistes complained, 'We had reached out to Smriti Irani and expressed our dissatisfaction. However, We didn't receive a proper response. We feel dejected rather than honoured for our work'.
Filmmaker Praveen Morchhale complains what has happened is discrimination and division of film celebs into classes.
Producer Manish Mundra, who won Best Hindi Film award for 'Newton', opined: 'National Awards has got an intrinsic value just because they were presented by the President. Otherwise, It's just one of those many film awards announced in the country'.
Whereas, President's Office clarified Ramnath Kovind hasn't attended any award function for more than an hour and it's a protocol.
11 Film Personalities who were lucky enough to receive national awards from President include Vinod Khanna, Sridevi and AR Rahman. Family Members accepted awards of late Vinod Khanna and Sridevi.