President of India Droupadi Murmu confers 70th National Film Awards

“Never allow your dreams to sleep, even if you are asleep”. These are the golden words of film legend Mithun Da to young awardees who received the 70th National Film Award in various categories in the national capital. The entire auditorium of Vigyan Bhawan rose to their feet in a standing ovation when President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu honoured Mithun Chakraborty with the Dada Saheb Phalke award for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema. Addressing the gathering, Mithun Da, shared the experiences of his struggle in the film industry. He recalled the discrimination he faced due to his dusky complexion and shared his dancing success mantra with the awardees and audience present in the auditorium. His message to the aspiring young talent artists was to identify their talent while chasing their dreams.

At the 70th National Film Awards ceremony, President of India Smt. Draupadi Murmu said that the films & social media are the most powerful medium to change society. She also praised the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for giving a level playing platform through these awards to the budding talents where they can come at the same platform along with the big names and production houses in the country.

The Award ceremony saw the participation of award winners such as Manoj Vajpayee, Vishal Bhardwaj, Neena Gupta, Karan Johar, Rishabh Shetty etc. Other personalities from Indian cinema such as Sharmila Tagore, Prasoon Joshi, etc were also present. Esteemed personalities such as A.R. Rahman and Mani Ratnam were among the awardees who received the prestigious National Film Award for the seventh time, a testament to their enduring brilliance and influence on the industry. Their achievements continue to inspire both aspiring and established artists in the ever-evolving landscape of Indian cinema.

Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting (I&B), Railways and Electronics and Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of State for I&B Dr. L. Murugan, Sh. Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of I&B, Shri Rahul Rawail, Sh. Nila Madhab Panda, & Shri Gangadhar Mudaliar as Jury were also present at the event.

Sh. Ashwini Vaishnaw warmly welcomed all the attendees, expressing his honor to be part of this prestigious event, which celebrates the brilliance of filmmakers, actors, technicians, and all stakeholders involved in the art of cinema.  He also paid tribute to legendary actor Mithun Chakraborty, who was honored with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his extraordinary contributions to Indian cinema and society. “Mithunda, your life is your message. You are an icon for our society, both on and off the screen,” he said, acknowledging the veteran actor’s exemplary career and public service.

Shri Vaishnaw highlighted the remarkable achievements of nine debut directors, applauding their bold storytelling, and celebrated the role of young innovators, whether in the film industry or startups, in driving the creative economy.

Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT)

To further support the growth of creative industries, Sh. Vaishnaw  announced a landmark initiative – the establishment of the first Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) in Mumbai. Modeled after prestigious institutions like the IITs and IIMs, which have produced some of the world’s finest technical and managerial talent (some of them leading the big giants like Google, Microsoft, etc), the IICT will focus on developing creative skills and knowledge. This new institution will serve as a hub for innovation, creativity, and talent development, ensuring India stays at the forefront of the global creative economy.

He also outlined the government’s vision to develop the film industry with three key pillars:

1. Development of Talent Pipeline: Recognizing the increasing role of technology in filmmaking, he emphasized the need for a strong talent pipeline. Drawing parallels with India’s success in IT and semiconductor sectors, he highlighted the importance of nurturing talent in creative technologies, with IICTs playing a pivotal role.

2. Infrastructure Development: Shri Vaishnaw stressed the need for world-class infrastructure to support the evolving needs of the film industry. He invited industry leaders to contribute ideas for creating a foundation that will propel Indian cinema to global standards.

3. Simplification of Processes: The Minister discussed simplifying permissions for filmmakers, making it easier for them to use diverse locations, such as railways, forests, and archaeological sites, in their projects. Streamlining these processes will encourage creativity and reduce bureaucratic hurdles.

Shri Vaishnaw also emphasized the importance of preserving India’s rich film heritage, from classic films to posters and newspaper clippings. He shared that decisions have been made to safeguard these invaluable treasures for future generations.

On this occasion, Secretary Shri Sanjay Jaju, also mentioned that 309 films in 32 different languages were received in Feature Films category and 128 films in 17 languages in Non-Feature Films category of 70th National Film Awards, thereby signifying the richness of our cultural landscape and inclusivity of our story telling. Recognising the resilience of Film industry in the background of global pandemic, he praised the film makers for captivating the audience through their art of storytelling.

Highlights from the 70th National Film Awards

This year’s National Film Awards continue the tradition of recognizing excellence across a diverse array of films and talent. The awards for 2022 feature several standout winners:

• Best Feature Film: “Aattam (The Play)”, a Malayalam film directed by Anand Ekarshi, has won this prestigious award for its artistic brilliance.
• Best Non-Feature Film: “Ayena (Mirror)”, directed by Siddhant Sarin, takes home this honor
• Best Actor in a Leading Role: Rishab Shetty wins the award for his captivating performance in “Kantara” (Kannada)
• Best Actress in a Leading Role: The Best Actress award will be shared by Nithya Menen for her portrayal in “Thiruchitrambalam” (Tamil) and Manasi Parekh for “Kutch Express” (Gujarati).
• Best Direction: Sooraj R. Barjatya wins for his work in the Hindi film “Uunchai”

Some of the other award winners include “Brahmastra – Part 1: Shiva” in the Best Film in AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming & Comic) category, “Kantara” for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, and “Kishore Kumar: The Ultimate Biography” for Best Book on Cinema.