Entertainment

IN PICTURES | 65th National Film Awards ceremony marked by many frowns, few smiles

In a first in the the history of the National Film Awards ceremony, about 50 award winners boycotted the event on Thursday after they learnt that President Ram Nath Kovind, in a departure from tradition, would give away the awards to only 11 winners while the rest would receive them from Minister of Information and Broadcasting Smriti Irani. While some awardees looked excited about getting recognition from the government for their work in movies, there were some winners whose name plates were placed facing down as they were not at the venue.
In a first in the the history of the National Film Awards ceremony, about 50 award winners boycotted the event on Thursday after they learnt that President Ram Nath Kovind, in a departure from tradition, would give away the awards to only 11 winners while
In a first in the the history of the National Film Awards ceremony, about 50 award winners boycotted the event on Thursday after they learnt that President Ram Nath Kovind, in a departure from tradition, would give away the awards to only 11 winners while
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Malayalam actor Fahad Fazil (in picture with actress and wife Nazriya Nazim), who won the Best Supporting Actor Male for 'Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum', leaves after deciding to skip the 65th National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi on Thursday. (Express photo by Parveen Negi)
Malayalam actor Fahad Fazil (in picture with actress and wife Nazriya Nazim), who won the Best Supporting Actor Male for 'Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum', leaves after deciding to skip the 65th National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi on Thursday. (Express photo by Parveen Negi)
About 60 award winners, including directors Kaushik Ganguly and Atanu Ghosh, wrote a letter to the President to express their disappointment. But with no response forthcoming, many left for the airport. (Express Photo by Parveen Negi)
About 60 award winners, including directors Kaushik Ganguly and Atanu Ghosh, wrote a letter to the President to express their disappointment. But with no response forthcoming, many left for the airport. (Express Photo by Parveen Negi)
Actress Divya Dutta, who got the National Award for Best Supporting Actor Female for her role in 'Irada', attended the ceremony. (Express Photo by Shekhar Yadav)
Actress Divya Dutta, who got the National Award for Best Supporting Actor Female for her role in 'Irada', attended the ceremony. (Express Photo by Shekhar Yadav)
Over 50 seats were vacant while Smriti Irani gave away the awards. To save her from embarrassment, organisers removed the name plates of the absent awardees and people sitting in the back rows were allowed to occupy the front seats. (Express Photo by Shekhar Yadav)
Over 50 seats were vacant while Smriti Irani gave away the awards. To save her from embarrassment, organisers removed the name plates of the absent awardees and people sitting in the back rows were allowed to occupy the front seats. (Express Photo by Shekhar Yadav)
Film producer Boney Kapoor and his daughters Janhvi and Khushi during the 65th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. The family received Best Actress Award on the behalf of late actress Sridevi. Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani and MoS for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore are also seen. (Express photo by Shekhar Yadav)
Film producer Boney Kapoor and his daughters Janhvi and Khushi during the 65th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. The family received Best Actress Award on the behalf of late actress Sridevi. Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani and MoS for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore are also seen. (Express photo by Shekhar Yadav)
Late veteran actor Vinod Khanna's wife Kavita Khanna and son actor Akshaye Khanna receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for him posthumously during the 65th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani and MoS for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore are also seen. (Express photo by Shekhar Yadav)
Late veteran actor Vinod Khanna's wife Kavita Khanna and son actor Akshaye Khanna receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for him posthumously during the 65th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani and MoS for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore are also seen. (Express photo by Shekhar Yadav)
R.C. Suresh, producer of Malayalam documentary 'Sword of Liberty', said: 'All the awardees were cherishing this beautiful moment when on 3rd May, they will receive the award from President. But yesterday during the rehearsal, the ADG came on podium and tried to tell us that there is a change in the format, and the President will give the award to selected people and main Dadasaheb Phalke award and all the other awards will be given by the I&B Minister.' (Express Photo by Parveen Negi)
R.C. Suresh, producer of Malayalam documentary 'Sword of Liberty', said: 'All the awardees were cherishing this beautiful moment when on 3rd May, they will receive the award from President. But yesterday during the rehearsal, the ADG came on podium and tried to tell us that there is a change in the format, and the President will give the award to selected people and main Dadasaheb Phalke award and all the other awards will be given by the I&B Minister.' (Express Photo by Parveen Negi)
Playback singer KJ Yesudas and music director AR Rahman at the 65th National Film Awards ceremony at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. (PTI Photo)
Playback singer KJ Yesudas and music director AR Rahman at the 65th National Film Awards ceremony at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. (PTI Photo)
President Ram Nath Kovind confers the award for Best Actor Male to Riddhi Sen (for Bengali film 'Nagar Kirtan') during the 65th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani and MoS for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore are also seen. (Express Photo | Shekhar Yadav)
President Ram Nath Kovind confers the award for Best Actor Male to Riddhi Sen (for Bengali film 'Nagar Kirtan') during the 65th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani and MoS for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore are also seen. (Express Photo | Shekhar Yadav)
President Ram Nath Kovind confers the award for Best Music Director to AR Rahman (for his music in Tamil film 'Kaatru Veliyidai') during the 65th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. He also received the award for Best Background Score in 'Mom'. Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani and MoS for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore are also seen. (Express Photo | Shekhar Yadav)
President Ram Nath Kovind confers the award for Best Music Director to AR Rahman (for his music in Tamil film 'Kaatru Veliyidai') during the 65th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. He also received the award for Best Background Score in 'Mom'. Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani and MoS for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore are also seen. (Express Photo | Shekhar Yadav)
President Ram Nath Kovind confers the award for Best Male Playback singer to K. J. Yesudas (he won it for the song 'Poemaranyakalam' from 'Viswasapoorvam Mansoor') during the 65th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani and MoS for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore are also seen. (Express Photo | Shekhar Yadav)
President Ram Nath Kovind confers the award for Best Male Playback singer to K. J. Yesudas (he won it for the song 'Poemaranyakalam' from 'Viswasapoorvam Mansoor') during the 65th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani and MoS for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore are also seen. (Express Photo | Shekhar Yadav)
Actor Pankaj Tripathi, who received a Special Mention for 'Newton' (Hindi), was simply happy to get the honour. 'We had come here to collect the award from the President but there's no problem. Award is an award. It doesn't matter. My award is this - a large number of people gathering around me. We should be able to reside in people's hearts. Awards...we will keep getting them,' said the 'Masaan' actor.
Actor Pankaj Tripathi, who received a Special Mention for 'Newton' (Hindi), was simply happy to get the honour. 'We had come here to collect the award from the President but there's no problem. Award is an award. It doesn't matter. My award is this - a large number of people gathering around me. We should be able to reside in people's hearts. Awards...we will keep getting them,' said the 'Masaan' actor.
President Ram Nath Kovind confers Best Direction award on Malayalam director Jayaraj for 'Bhayanakam' during the 65th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani and MoS for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore are also seen. (PTI Photo)
President Ram Nath Kovind confers Best Direction award on Malayalam director Jayaraj for 'Bhayanakam' during the 65th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani and MoS for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore are also seen. (PTI Photo)
Shekhar Kapur, the National Film Awards jury chief leaves for the award ceremony venue in New Delhi on Thursday. (Express Photo by Parveen Negi)
Shekhar Kapur, the National Film Awards jury chief leaves for the award ceremony venue in New Delhi on Thursday. (Express Photo by Parveen Negi)
Shashaa Tirupati receives the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer (for the song 'Vaan Varuvaan' from Tamil film 'Kaatru Veliyidai') from Union minister Smriti Irani. The singer had stated previously that she felt 'terribly disrespected' that she wouldn't be getitng the award from the President and that the 'thrill had all gone'. (PTI Photo)
Shashaa Tirupati receives the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer (for the song 'Vaan Varuvaan' from Tamil film 'Kaatru Veliyidai') from Union minister Smriti Irani. The singer had stated previously that she felt 'terribly disrespected' that she wouldn't be getitng the award from the President and that the 'thrill had all gone'. (PTI Photo)
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani confers Best Child Artist Female on Bhanita Das (for 'Village Rockstar') during the 65th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. (PTI Photo)
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani confers Best Child Artist Female on Bhanita Das (for 'Village Rockstar') during the 65th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. (PTI Photo)
President Ram Nath Kovind confers 'Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration' on Producer Sumatilal Popatlal Shah for 'Dhappa' during the 65th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani and MoS for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore are also seen. (PTI Photo)
President Ram Nath Kovind confers 'Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration' on Producer Sumatilal Popatlal Shah for 'Dhappa' during the 65th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. Information and Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani and MoS for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore are also seen. (PTI Photo)
Jahnvi, Khushi and Boney Kapoor share a candid moment at the 65th National Film Awards ceremony on Thursday. They received Sridevi's Best Actress award posthumously. (PTI Photo).
Jahnvi, Khushi and Boney Kapoor share a candid moment at the 65th National Film Awards ceremony on Thursday. They received Sridevi's Best Actress award posthumously. (PTI Photo).
Smriti Irani
President Ram Nath Kovind
National Film Awards
film awards

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