The 65th National Film Awards Ceremony took place at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Thursday. Moments before the ceremony, a fresh controversy popped up. Awardees have expressed dissent over news that President Ram Nath Kovind will felicitate only 11 out of the total 137 awardees at the 65th National Film Awards ceremony which was held in New Delhi. Due to shortage of time, the decision has been taken, which has disappointed many National Award winners who expected being felicitated by the President of India himself.
Over 70 recipients of the 65th National Film Awards have reportedly decided to stay away from the function to protest President Ram Nath Kovind’s inability to personally present the prizes to all the winners. A letter written by the recipients to Chaitanya Prasad, Additional Director General of the Directorate of Film Festivals, clarified that the letterv was not a “boycott”, but an expression of disappointment over the President’s decision.
The awardees were honoured in the presence of I&B Minister Smriti Irani, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Minister of State, Information & Broadcasting and Narendra Kumar Singh, Secretary, Information & Broadcasting Ministry. Late actress Sridevi was also be honoured with the Best Actress National Film Award for her last film Mom. On the other hand, Bengali actor Ridhi Sen received Best Actor award for his film Nagar Kirtan. Vinod Khanna was posthumously conferred with Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
This year, the jury was headed by renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who is known for directing Mr India with Sridevi and Anil Kapoor. While announcing the winners, the filmmaker was all praises for the artistic finesse of the regional films and artistes. He said, “The standard of performances in some of the regional films is completely stunning. Hindi films cannot compete with them, not in the state they are… And I know why… Our Hindi films try too hard to become everything. These (regional films) are rooted”.
Here are the latest updates on 65th National Film Awards 2018 Ceremony:
18:10 pm: I&B Minister Smriti Irani concludes the 65th National Film Awards Ceremony.
18:02 pm: Boney Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor collected award on behalf of late actress Sridevi.
17:55 pm: Marathi film Dhappa gets Nargis Dutt Award for Best Film on National Integration
Mukhonmoni collects Best Writing on Cinema Award for Matamgi Manipur
17:46 pm: Akshaye Khanna and mother Kavita Khanna collect coveted Dadasaheb Phalke Award on behalf of late Vinod Khanna, who passed away last year.
17:41 pm: President Ram Nath Kovind arrives the venue with wife and First Lady of India, Mrs Savita Kovind.
17: 23 pm:
17:22 pm:
17:18 pm:
17:15 pm:
17:03 pm: Divya Dutta collects award for Best Supporting Role in Irada.
16:58 pm: Doordarshan remembers Sridevi on her National Award win.
16:55 pm: Amit V Masurkar awarded with National Film Award for Best Hindi Film (Newton)
Amit V Masurkar awarded with National Film Award for Best Hindi Film (Newton) 
16:48 pm: Pankaj Tripathi received Special Mention Award for Newton.
Sridevi's family arrive at National Award ceremony.
16:46 pm: We now reach the end of non-feature film category.
16:31 pm: Madhya Pradesh bags the most film friendly state award, while Uttarakhand gets special mention under the same category.
16:29 pm: Smriti Irani and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore arrive to present the award the first set.
16:17 pm: Boney Kapoor and daughters arrive at the venue. Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor donned a traditional attire for the event. Both the gorgeous ladies are seen in traditional silk sarees for the day. Boney Kapoor gets emotional while feeling proud of his late wife and actress Sridevi.
Sridevi's family arrive at National Award ceremony.
A. R. Rahman on red carpet.
16:01 pm: Akshaye Khanna arrives to collect award on behalf of his late father Vinod Khanna.
15:58 pm:
15:56 pm:
15:51 pm: Ace choreographer Ganesh Acharya arrives with family.
15:46 pm: Pankaj Tripathi arrives with wife. He received a special mention for his performance in Newton.
15:45 pm:
15:37 pm: Ridhi Sen, the winner of Best Actor National Award arrives. He is just 19-year-old and the list of the film he did is vast for his age.
15:32 pm: Divya Dutt looks respelendent in pink and gold saree. She arrives with her siblings.
15:24 pm:
14:40 pm: The ceremony will begin at 3:15 pm today. You can catch all the live updates here.
14:33 pm: National Award winning Marathi film director Prakash Oak termed the incident as 'insulting'
Talking to ANI, Oak said, "We feel insulted, 75 awardees are threatening to boycott the award ceremony today."
As reported, the change in the plan was revealed during a rehearsal for the ceremony.
14:09 pm: Director Hansal Mehta calls it "unfair"
National award winner himself, director Hansal Mehta told Indian Express, "It's extremely disappointing. It's unfair. Not to undermine any minister but it's the biggest recognition that an artiste gets from his or her nation and it's given by the president. These winners had already reached Delhi and they were in the middle of their rehearsals when they were informed. That's humiliating."
14:01 pm: Boney Kapoor on late wife Sridevi's National Award win:
He said, "Boney Kapoor talked about Sridevi winning the national award for her movie MOM during the rehearsals of the ceremony. He said, "It's a very proud moment. She would have been very happy being here. We feel elated and proud that she is being recognised for the hard work she put in MOM."
Divya Dutta on her National Award win:
Pankaj Tripathi on National Award win:
13:47 pm: Awardee Shashaa Tirupati feels 'disrespected' on not being awarded by President of India himself.
Speaking to IANS, she said, "Yeah, but not from the President. There are only 11 people who are going to get awards from the President," Shashaa told IANS.
Disappointed?
"Dude, let's not talk about it. I feel terribly disrespected right now," she said.
13:43 pm: Filmmaker Ashwini Chaudhary speaks up on National Film Awards controversy that brewed up moments before the ceremony to start.
Raees fame Rahul Dholakia on National Awards controversy:
11:00 am:
Actress Prakruti Mishra excited before National Film Awards ceremony:
Watch the National Film Awards ceremony LIVE here:
