Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw responded to criticism regarding the 72nd National Film Awards being held near the famous 'Statue of Unity' in Gujarat instead of Vidyanagar in Delhi. Speaking during this discussion, Vaishnaw stated that the government plans to move the National Film Awards to various major tourist attractions across the country in the coming years.
He urged people to think beyond political interests, addressing those who initiated narrow political debates, noting: 'The nation comes first, always comes first.'
In his speech, Vaishnaw invited all states and union territories to identify key tourist spots and propose improvements that could be made to these locations. Subsequently, the government will select a location for the next National Film Awards ceremony, with the goal of promoting that place and boosting tourism in the state.
He appealed to all states and union territories to choose one of their region's most significant tourist attractions and report on the improvements they plan to implement. The chosen location would then be selected, and the next phase of the National Film Awards would take place there.
The Minister emphasized that the government intends to use the awards ceremony to popularize these tourist sites. He explained: 'We will use this method to visit some of the most outstanding tourist places in the country. When films and filmmakers go there, these places will automatically receive publicity.'
Following the announcement of the venue change, many political figures, including Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray, criticized the decision. Furthermore, Sanjay Raut, an MLA from Shiv Sena (UBT), called for artists to boycott the event.
Filmmaker Rahul Dholakia was also dissatisfied with the decision. He argued that many other states and cities have stronger historical ties to Indian cinema, raising the question of why Gujarat specifically.
At the 72nd National Film Awards, talents of Indian cinema were recognized, among whom renowned names such as Mammootty, Kartik Aaryan, Yami Gautam, and Dhanush received top honors.
