The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, presented the 68th National Film Awards in various categories in New Delhi today. She also conferred Dadasaheb Phalke Award on Asha Parekh.

Speaking on the occasion, the President congratulated all the award winners of the 68th National Film Awards. She also congratulated Asha Parekh for winning Dadasaheb Phalke Award and said that our sisters of that generation made their mark in various fields despite many constraints. Honour to Parekh is also an honour for the indomitable female power.

The President said that apart from making films, the film industry plays a major role in building a better society and nation. Being an audio-visual medium, the influence of films is wider than other mediums of art. She said that cinema is not only an industry but also a medium of artistic expression of our culture and values. It is also a medium for connecting our society and for nation-building.

The President said that films have greater influence on youth and children. Therefore, the society expects the film industry to effectively utilize this medium in building the future of the country.

The President said that as we are celebrating the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, feature and non-feature films on the life and work of freedom fighters will be welcomed by the audience. People also expect films which increase compassion and unity in society, accelerate the pace of development and strengthen the efforts of environmental protection. She was happy to note that the films that got awards today, have highlighted important national issues of nature and environment, culture, social values and other important aspects.

The President said that Indian films are being welcomed all over the world. To make more effective use of this soft-power, we have to enhance the quality of our movies. She noted that films made in one region are becoming more and more popular in other regions as well. She said that in this way cinema is tying all people in one cultural thread. This is a big contribution of the film community to society.