President Murmu Confers 71st National Film Awards; Mohanlal Receives Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Cinema must reflect cultural values, serve public interest: President Murmu
New Delhi, Sept 23: The 71st National Film Awards at Vigyan Bhawan witnessed a grand celebration of Indian cinema, with President Droupadi Murmu conferring honours on stalwarts and rising stars alike.
President Murmu highlighted that cinema should not only be popular but also serve the larger public interest, underlining its role as a mirror of society and custodian of India’s cultural heritage. She praised the growing representation of women in films and called for equal opportunities both on and off screen.
The evening’s most prestigious honour, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, went to veteran actor Mohanlal, for his four-decade-long distinguished contribution to cinema. Calling the award “magical and sacred,” Mohanlal said cinema is the heartbeat of his soul and dedicated the recognition to the masters of Malayalam cinema.
The award ceremony also celebrated mainstream and grassroots cinema. Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan) and Vikrant Massey (12th Fail) jointly bagged Best Actor, while Rani Mukerji won Best Actress for Mrs. Chatterjee v/s Norway. Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 12th Fail was declared Best Feature Film, and Hanu-Man was honoured as Best AVGC Film for innovation in animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics.
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw announced government initiatives to boost indigenous film equipment manufacturing, strengthen the live concert economy, and prepare Model State Cinema Regulation Rules as part of the Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap.
The 71st National Film Awards reaffirmed Indian cinema’s dual role — as a source of grandeur and entertainment, and as a powerful tool for social change and cultural expression.
