Speech by Hon'ble President of India, Shrimati Pratibha Devisingh Patil, at the Presentation of the National Film Awards and the Dada Saheb Phalke Award

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very happy to be here today on the occasion of the 55th National Film Awards function. This is a ceremony which is awaited every year, for it is the time when talented individuals from the film industry are honoured for their excellent creative work. It is also an occasion when new and upcoming names become known to film enthusiasts. Finally, it is always the time when we salute a doyen of our film industry, who on account of talent and hardwork has excelled and, over the years, become a highly respected celebrity and, infact, a name intrinsically associated with the finest talents of our times. I congratulate Shri Manna Dey and all those who have won Awards this year.

In the 21st Century, Indian cinema has become a global enterprise. Rapidly improving technology has helped the industry to upgrade itself as also to radically alter the manner in which cinema reaches the audience. I am proud that Indian cinema today has found a market in a large number of countries. Increasingly, our film makers are entering international film festivals and are being recognized through awards. This is a good example of how India's soft power can help project the nation around the world. We have a rich and varied cultural heritage that has been and continues to be a very significant base for telling the world the story of India - a nation whose history goes back many millennia, a nation that occupies an important place in the contemporary world and a nation whose future holds great promise.

Facilities for film production in the country have also been improving and some of them are even of the highest quality in the world. I am told that the Indian film market has become more attractive for foreign film houses. At the same time, prominent Indian enterprises are also participating in producing and distributing films around the world. Music in Indian cinema is popular in many countries and helps in generating goodwill for India.

I understand that a good number of entries both in the feature and non-feature section for the year 2007 were received. This trend is encouraging. I hope that in the coming years there would be more entries in the best film critic section as well, since film appreciation or healthy criticism is a very important aspect in the growth, understanding and development of cinema as an art form. This year, regional cinema seems to have taken a good share of awards and a large number of films have been entered by new directors. This is an encouraging trend.

At the risk of repeating what I had said last year at this Award function, I would like to reiterate that cinema is a very powerful medium for conveying messages. The number of cine goers and film viewers is very large in our country. This imposes a great responsibility on everyone associated with the film industry to look at how to use the power of cinema to do good for society through the portrayal of attitudes that help in building tolerant and harmonious societies. It is important that the entertainment sector includes value-based ideals and points of view, which can motivate viewers to aspire for higher and nobler goals in their lives.

Cinema should not only be a source of popular entertainment for families and individuals, but also a vehicle for social change. It has a deep impact on people as they watch how social evils like child marriage, dowry and drug addiction can destroy a life or how a good deed can bring out the gentler side of a human being or how we can help the disadvantaged and differently-abled to live a life of dignity. Films can fulfill a very important role in making individuals compassionate and acting as emotional integrators in society. I am sure that the film fraternity will continue to understand this responsibility in its fullest sense. I am happy that the jury this year has given recognition to such films by choosing them as the winners in the categories of Best Feature Film, Best Family Welfare Film, Best Film for National Integration and Best Film for Wholesome Entertainment.

A few words for the young artiste who has won an award today. I hope that the award bestowed on Master Sharad Goyekar, will further inspire and motivate him to give greater expression to his talent. I hope that the award for Best Child Artiste will inspire young Sharad and his family to work for good causes with conviction just like the character he has portrayed in the film - 'Tingya'. Your good work, in turn, can inspire the younger generation to devote their time and effort to work for causes they believe in to build a better society.

With the passage of time, change is inevitable. In our times change is rapid and likely to become faster in coming times. However, even in the midst of change there are talents that have a quality of touching the very core of a human being. Such works carry in them the essence of eternality and are appreciated across generations. The winner of the Dada Saheb Phalke Award this year, Shri Manna Dey is a singer par excellence, popular for his rendition of film music over more than four decades. The Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards have earlier been conferred on him in recognition of his work. Not only did Shri Manna Dey's discography of more than 3000 songs include those which he sang for films, but also a formidable non-film repertoire. The magic of Shri Manna Dey was also the consummate ease with which he could bridge Hindustani classical music and popular music. Generations of Indians perhaps shall never forget the songs sung by him. We wish him many years of good health and well being.

I would like to convey my compliments to all the Members of the Jury for their efforts of assessing the entries which came to them. To each one of the award winners present here this evening, I take this opportunity to once again congratulate each one of you and wish you continued success in your pursuit of excellence. I am confident that your creativity will touch new heights in the years ahead and that you would provide good as well as value based entertainment.

Thank You. 
Jai Hind