The 72nd National Awards took place on Tuesday in Gujarat and during the event, President Droupadi Murmu has urged popular film personalities to be mindful of their influence on young audiences and refrain from endorsing products that could be harmful to public health. Speaking at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony on Tuesday, she highlighted the impact celebrities can have on children and youngsters, saying a true star should spread light rather than darkness.Murmu presented the National Film Awards for 2024 across various categories at Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), near the Statue of Unity in Gujarat. The ceremony was attended by several prominent names from the Indian film industry.Highlighting the influence celebrities have on their fans, the President said, “When successful artists speak about the benefits of a disciplined lifestyle, millions of children and young people emulate them. I urge popular artists not to endorse products that are harmful to people’s health. A true star is the one who spreads light, not darkness.”Her remarks come amid increased scrutiny over celebrity endorsements of products associated with health concerns. Earlier this year, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration, led by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, issued show-cause notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff over their appearance in a Vimal Elaichi advertisement. The FDA questioned whether the campaign amounted to surrogate promotion of Vimal Pan Masala, which is prohibited in Maharashtra.The issue resurfaced recently after Mundhe said that celebrity status would not shield the actors from regulatory action and that proceedings had been initiated against one of the actors who had not responded to the notice.The President also called for greater representation of women on the juries constituted to select winners for the National Film Awards. She said, “I would like to see women’s participation ensured in every regional jury,” while pointing out that several women had been honoured at this year’s ceremony.Emphasising the importance of diverse perspectives, Murmu added that women should have a place on the award juries, noting that “incorporating the female perspective in any field makes it possible to form a holistic human outlook”.Murmu also appealed to the film industry to pay greater attention to the welfare of the many workers and professionals who contribute to the creative economy, particularly those who are still trying to establish themselves.“Please ensure that the workers, small-scale artists, assistants, and those struggling to make their mark, who contribute to this economy, receive both respect and social security,” President Murmu added.The President recalled her address at the previous National Film Awards ceremony, where she had urged the film fraternity to make respect and sensitivity towards every member of a film crew an integral part of the industry’s work culture.
