Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani today said she feels proud as the 65th National Film Awards have honoured over 21 women, including Rima Das for her critically-acclaimed Assamese movie "Village Rockstars".
Irani, who felicitated the winners along with President Ram Nath Kovind and Minister of State Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, promised to promote diversity of India through cinema in future.
"I feel proud as we honour more than 21 women today on this stage including Rima Das, who presented a simple story from Assam, which not only resonated with people in India but also made the country proud across the globe," the minister said in her speech.
"I assure you all, that like this year we gave special mention to our regional cinema, we will continue to promote the diversity of India through our films," she added.
In her address, Irani also remembered late actors Vinod Khanna and Sridevi, who received the Dadasaheb Phalke honour and the Best Actress award respectively.
"Today on this stage we also honoured a woman, who is not among us anymore. It is her first win. Nobody had ever thought that she will receive this honour posthumously. I today remember Sridevi, who not only left a great impression on the film world but on our lives well.
"The President today also honoured a personality, who on the basis of his calibre created history not only in cinema but also in politics. It is my honour that the biggest award of the film industry was given to Vinod Khanna ji," she said.
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