The glittering awards ceremony, held near the Statue of Unity, saw the President hand out honors for films released in 2024 across a range of categories, with top talent from Bollywood and regional cinemas in attendance.
In her address, Murmu warned that the words and actions of celebrated artists have a powerful impact on children and young people, saying, “When successful artists speak about the benefits of a disciplined lifestyle, millions of children and young people emulate them. I urge popular artists not to endorse products that are harmful to people's health. A true star is the one who spreads light, not darkness.”
She also urged greater participation of women on the juries that select films for the National Film Awards, stating, “I would like to see women's participation ensured in every regional jury,” and noting that many women had already received awards at the event.
The President appealed to the industry to ensure respect and social security for workers, small‑scale artists, assistants and others who contribute to the creative economy, adding that their welfare should be integral to the film sector’s work culture.
Murmu praised the overall quality of Indian cinema, saying the recent output strengthens her conviction that Indian films will set world‑class benchmarks for quality and that the industry has a golden future ahead.
Among the honors presented, veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award, while Yami Gautam, Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan were named best actors in their respective categories. The Hindi feature film “Article 370,” directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, won the Best Feature Film award.