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Vice President presents Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2011 to Soumitra Chatterjee | Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari on Thursday presented
the DADA Saheb Phalke Award 2011 to renowned bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee. Addressing at the "Presentation Ceremony of the 59th National Film Awards including
the Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2011" here today, he said that Indian cinema has successfully
adapted traditional Indian narrative and oral traditions to the requirements of
technology and formats of new media. "A sociologist has argued, rightly, that
popular culture is a site where "collective social understandings are created".
Our films play a significant role in this, more so given the linguistic and regional
diversity they portray. The annual National Film Awards are an important landmark
in our cultural calendar and are eagerly awaited. It therefore gives me great
pleasure to participate in today's presentation ceremony of the 59th National
Film Awards," said Vice President Ansari. "Over the years, these awards have recognized
excellence as also propelled new or unknown talent to national and international
limelight and provide encouragement and recognition to them. They also provide
us an annual opportunity to salute and pay homage to the Father of Indian Cinema,
Dhundiraj Govind Phalke," he added. Vice President Ansari said the Dada Saheb
Phalke Award winners constitute the legends of Indian cinema. "This prestigious
award today is being presented to renowned Bengali film and theatre actor Shri
Soumitra Chatterjee. His partnership with Satyajit Ray would indeed be counted
as a memorable director-actor combination in the history of cinema. I warmly congratulate
Shri Chatterjee and all other award winners. I also wish to thank and congratulate
the distinguished Jury for the Awards for their hard work," said Vice President
Ansari. "Since the first Indian feature film, Raja Harishchandra, made by Dada
Saheb Phalke almost a century ago, Indian commercial cinema has formed a principal
element of our popular culture and impacts on how we think, behave and function
in our public and private lives," he added. Vice President Ansari said it is an
under-appreciated fact that over 80 per cent of the films certified for public
exhibition are regional films. "I am also happy to note that this year there has
been the highest number of films entered in both the feature and non-feature sections.
The eleven children who have been awarded the Best Child Artist awards deserve
our whole hearted appreciation and applause," said Vice President Ansari. "As
a collective, the films and artistes who have been awarded today prove that contrary
to popular perception, Indian cinema is neither formulaic nor conforming to stereotypes.
It has successfully adapted traditional Indian narrative and oral traditions to
the requirements of technology and formats of new media," he added. Stating that
India is in the throes of rapid transformation, Vice President Ansari said: "
This is also reflected in the nature and expectations of cinema goers. We have
a growing middle class, and a younger generation of viewers; both are desirous
and capable of spending on entertainment. The film viewers today, besides entertainment,
seek to understand their society and their world, and to make sense of societal
and personal evolution." "The technology and format of film viewing is also changing
with new gadgets including phones, Tablets, Pay-per-view and laptops and venues
such as multiplexes. This is leading to an increasing demand for better cinematography,
improved quality and digital formats. They impact on the distribution and marketing
and thus on revenue generation possibilities. The industry has to face the challenge
of continuing on the path of innovation, creativity, and technological up-gradation
even as it nurtures its umbilical chord with our heritage and culture," he added.
Vice President Ansari further said films are one of the most potent elements of
our soft power. "They are ambassadors of our culture, tradition and society. They
foster people-to-people relations and promote our image and interests in ways
that are not readily apparent but are of enduring significance. As we improve
our society and economy and empower our citizens, our films will continue to play
a leading role within the country and abroad to further the effort," he added.
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