Amid Rows And Rows Of Empty Seats, The Internet Extends Support To National Film Awards Boycott
This year&rsquos National Film Awards ceremony was anything but conventional. Over 68 recipients decided to boycott the event in New Delhi yesterday. The reason behind this unprecedented move was the decision of President Ram Nath Kovind of handing over the awards to only a selected 11 winners out of 135 recipients.
This year¡¯s National Film Awards ceremony was anything but conventional. While the expectation was of a glitch-free well-practiced ceremony, it got marred with controversy as over 68 recipients decided to boycott the event in New Delhi yesterday. The reason behind this unprecedented move was the decision of President Ram Nath Kovind of handing over the awards to only a selected 11 winners out of 135 recipients.
Breaking the years-long tradition, the rest of 125 winners were given the award by Information & Broadcasting minister Smriti Irani and Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. The winners were so let down that they even wrote to the Directorate of Film Festivals, president's office and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, to express their concerns over this "discrimination".
To see several rows of empty seats with the name plates of the absentees facing down was definitely a first. Another protocol that was missing from this year¡¯s ceremony was a musical performance. Ironic, since the ceremony is all about celebrating Cinema, isn¡¯t it?
Agencies
Now, the internet never holds back from expressing their opinion and this time too it made sure that the message was conveyed loud and clear. Barring some users, most of the internet collectively voiced their support with the boycott. Here are some of the reactions. Scroll!
Salutes to those 68 winners of the National Film Awards who have boycotted the ceremony after it was announced that President Ram Nath Kovind would be felicitating only 11 winners out of the total 137 recipients. pic.twitter.com/TPDfN1MXDo
¡ª Sudeep Sudhakaran (@SudeepSudhakrn) May 3, 2018
They've made national awards ceremony a "JOKE". Where was President busy? What he does actually? What was so important that he couldn't stay for more than 60 minutes in once in a every year activity? Shame! https://t.co/BRczCCs2Vh
¡ª Rajat Kapoor (@kapoor_636) May 4, 2018
I appreciate the decision taken by national award winners to boycott the function
¡ª Manu John (@ItzmeManu) May 4, 2018
Utterly shameful of the president office to do the selective honour. #NationalFilmAwards https://t.co/ONEP7IVMJB
¡ª Name cannot be left blank (@TheWeirdo005) May 4, 2018
Utterly disgraceful to witness #RamNathKovind ill-treating his stature; insulting national-awardees & moreover demonstrating his pathetic time-management skills! #NationalFilmAwards #Accountability #BJP #NationalFilmAwards2018 #SmritiIrani
¡ª Deepak Prabhakaran (@LAWyerSpeaking) May 4, 2018
All the right wing politicians are criticising the boycott of #NationalFilmAwards ....just because they feel it's something against them..no you fools...its all about respect,dignity & ethics...and it's not politics...
¡ª ashil bran (@ashilbran) May 4, 2018
Very disappointed, this is the first time in Indian history that #NationalFilmAwards not given by President of India but given by Smriti Irani. It's look like Saas bhi kabhi President thi.#imikr
¡ª Indra Kant (@TheIndraKant) May 4, 2018
68 seats empty with their name plates down. Probably the most powerful image from #NationalFilmAwards. These are the 68 artists who stood up for their self respect, by refusing to receive the award from I&B minister Smriti Irani.#boycott
¡ª M SH¦«D¦«B ?? (@The1shadab) May 4, 2018
one of the reason the National Film Awards are prestigious is because they are handed by the @rashtrapatibhvn -not a minister. This is a moment of a lifetime for Film makers ; please don¡¯t deprive them of their merit / glory #NationalFilmAwards @smritiirani @Ra_THORe
¡ª rahul dholakia (@rahuldholakia) May 3, 2018
Boring speeches by ministers , that too in Shuddh Hindi cud have been cut, and a few more awards could have been given out by the president. Deserving winners cud have been honored. even people from Hindi belt cant follow such high Hindi. #NationalFilmAwards pic.twitter.com/RVYinu7olM
¡ª kasturi shankar (@KasthuriShankar) May 3, 2018
"In the dark times
¡ª anupama mohan (@anupama_m) May 3, 2018
Will there also be singing?
Yes, there will also be singing.
About the dark times.¡± ¨D Bertolt Brecht
A rare and powerful display of human dignity at #NationalFilmAwards pic.twitter.com/ad3fw1F8w9
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Bhavya Sadhwani heads Indiatimes OTT section - Binge. She calls herself an entertainment ninja and OTT content sucker. She loves to write on web series, movies, documentaries, reality shows and everything else that releases on digital platforms. She forms a special bond with those who share her love for cringe content.
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