President Murmu confers 69th National Film Awards
Waheeda Rehman is the beacon for women empowerment
PIB News
NEW DELHI, October 17 2023: President of India Droupadi Murmu Tuesday conferred National Film Awards for the year 2021 under various categories at 69th edition of the ceremony in New Delhi. The prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award was conferred to Waheeda Rehman on the occasion.
President Droupadi Murmu congratulated Waheeda Rehman and said that she had established herself at the pinnacle of the film industry with her art and personality. Even in her personal life, she had made her mark as a woman of dignity, self-confidence and originality. She chose many films in which her roles broke many barriers typically associated with women. Waheeda ji has set an example that women themselves should also take initiative for women empowerment. 
Speaking about the National Film Awards the President said that the award ceremony paints a picture of diversity of India and the unity inherent in it. She added that the talented people present at the ceremony had given meaningful expression to many languages, regional characteristics, social beliefs, achievements and problems and that people from many generations and classes came together at the National Film Awards.
Calling the film fraternity and the artists change-makers, she said that through their films, they pen a lively introduction to the diverse reality of Indian society. She added that cinema was both a document of our society and also a medium to improve it and their work connected the people with each other.
President expressed confidence that in a country rich in talent, people associated with cinema will continue to set new standards of world-class excellence and that films will play an important role in building a developed India.
Stating that the awards were being conferred for the year 2021, Secretary Apurva Chandra said that it was the year of Covid-19 when the cinema halls were closed and the industry was struggling. However, we quickly climbed back and now the country and the film industry both are back on the path of growth and the last quarter has been the best for the film industry of India.
He added that while box office success is important, the Film Awards celebrate quality.
Full list of awards can be found at the link below