Film industry can make more efforts towards women-led development: President

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said more efforts could be made to foster womenled development in the Indian film industryAt a ceremony to present the 70th National Film Awards at Vigyan Bhawan she said Indian cinema is the worlds largest film industry as it produces movies in several languages and regionsIndian cinema is the largest film industry in the world with films being produced in multiple languages and across all regions of the country At the same time it is also the most diverse art field Murmu said after presenting the awardsThe president noted that out of the 85 people who received National Film Awards only 15 were womenThe total number of award winners today is more than 85 but the number of women award winners is only 15 I attend many convocation functions of educational institutions In most highereducation institutions the number of girl students receiving awards exceeds that of male studentsSimilar changes should happen in employment and industry also More efforts can be made by the film industry towards womenled development she saidMurmu said films and social media are a great tool to bring a change in societyThe impact these mediums have on creating awareness among people is not possible through any other medium she addedThe president also congratulated veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty who was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award the governments highest recognition in the field of cinema at the ceremonyMurmu who is Indias first tribal and second woman president of the country recalled reading Odia short story Shikaar by Bhagbati Charan Panigrahi in school The story was adapted for the screen by legendary filmmaker Mrinal Sen in his 1976 movie Mrigayaa featuring Chakraborty as a young tribal called GhinuaThe actor also won his first National Film Award for the movie which marked his acting debutMithun Chakraborty ji in his very first film Mrigayaa brought that unique character alive and was honoured with the National Award for best actor Till now during his artistic journey of almost five decades Mithun has played serious characters on screen as well as brought his unique energy to many ordinary stories The scope of his popularity extends to other countries she addedThe president lamented that meaningful films often dont find audiences and arent promoted properlyNot only do trade journals write about films that cost and earn crores of rupees newspapers also give more importance to the reviews and reports of those films Spending on film promotion is considered an important part for the success of a filmIn such a situation economic power seems to control an important medium like films Makers of many awardwinning films today do not have the kind of financial muscle that propels bigbudget films forward she saidMurmu said citizens of the society social organisations as well as central and state governments should make efforts to increase the reach of meaningful cinemaThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever