Murmu urges actors against endorsing harmful health products; ‘True star spreads light, not darkness’

President Droupadi Murmu emphasized the importance of increased female participation in the jury during the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony, which took place in Ektanagar near the Statue of Unity in Gujarat. She also urged film stars to avoid endorsing harmful products, stating "Stars are those that give and spread light." The ceremony, held at a special dome constructed around the 182-meter tall statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, was attended by numerous celebrities from across the country.

Among the notable recipients were veteran actor Anant Nag, who received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, and Yami Gautam and Aditya Dhar, who won the Best Feature Film award for 'Article 370'. The ceremony featured films on the life of Veer Savarkar and the making of the Statue of Unity, with President Murmu highlighting the recognition of many women as recipients.

She expressed a desire for more women to be included in regional juries, noting that their perspectives contribute to a vision for humanity. President Murmu also praised the debut non-feature film 'Angen' by Ravi Raj Murmu, a Santali-language film, for transforming folklore into cinematic poetry. The ceremony marked the first time it was held outside Delhi, with Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw proposing that future editions be hosted in significant tourist destinations across the country, contributing to the promotion of these locations and their cultural heritage.