Ranchi: City filmmaker duo Biju Toppo and Meghnath were among the 55-odd National Film Award winners who skipped the ceremony at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday evening because in a departure from tradition, the President did not give away all the awards.
While Ram Nath Kovind presented only the 11 top awards, information and broadcasting minister Smriti Irani gave away the rest. The 11 chosen for the President's segment included actors Vinod Khanna and Sridevi, who were honoured posthumously.
Biju and Meghnath bagged the national award this year for their film on the life and works of tribal ideologue Ram Dayal Munda. Produced by Films Division, Naachi se Baanchi was adjudged the best movie in the biographical/historical reconstruction category of the non-feature section.
"We are not refusing the award. The President hands over the film awards every year and we wish for that honour once more," Meghnath told this newspaper from Delhi. "In 2011, then President Pratibha Patil had presented us the two national awards we had won," he contended.
In an impassioned letter addressed to the President and the government, a section of artistes said, "...At the end of the day we feel dejected rather than honoured for our work".
The President's office expressed surprise at the "11th hour protest", saying it was known that Kovind attended all award functions for a maximum of one hour. "This has been the protocol since he took office. It was conveyed to the ministry several weeks ago," Ashok Malik, press secretary to the President, told agencies.
But, Meghnath insisted that they learnt about it during the dress rehearsal on Wednesday. "It agitated many artistes. Smritiji tried to pacify them. We told her that a filmmaker works hard to make a classic and the President spends just about a minute to hand over an award in recognition, and that shouldn't be discontinued," he said.
"It is unfortunate that we are gradually losing hope in many of our national institutions; cinema may become the latest victim," he signed off.
