Change in protocol

The presentation ceremony of the National Film Awards also appears to be an occasion for controversy (“Film-makers skip award function”, May 4). If on previous occasions, there has been much heartburn over the conspicuous omissions of leading artistes, especially from the south, the protests now, at the 65th NFA function over “selective treatment” show that the situation was imminently avoidable. Much of honour associated with a national award lies in the fact that it is given by the first citizen and the President of India. If the President found it inconvenient to give away all the 137 awards in a single stretch, it could have been arranged as a staggered function. The solemnity of the function is preserved when tradition is observed.

A. Jainulabdeen,

Chennai

One is unable to understand why, out of the blue, it has been decided that the President of India “can spare only an hour for convocations and award ceremonies”. Will the same yardstick be applied now for the Republic Day Parade and other grand functions, where after exactly 60 minutes, the President decides that he has to drop everything and depart? For awardees, receiving a national award is a great moment and they expect the President to have the time to honour them. The new condition only diminishes the stature of national award winners and amounts to shutting the door on them.

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee,

Faridabad

It is inappropriate and unfair to practise a kind of apartheid in classifying artists based on perceived notions of their importance and status. It sends out a wrong message that some artists are more important than others to deserve an audience with the President. It is baffling why the President should restrict his public appearances to a stipulated time. In a democracy, leaders are not expected to consider their public interactions as a burden. It is better to take the people into confidence if the President’s health does not permit his participation in extended and physically tiring ceremonies.

V.N. Mukundarajan,

Thiruvananthapuram

An avoidable controversy has been generated by the last-minute change in protocol. How much more graceful and thoughtful it would it have been had the 11 awards (if indeed that was a restriction) were given away by the President to newcomers and/or first-time winners (selected by lots if you like). For a little known or first-time winner of a National Award, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to receive the award from the first citizen of the country, a moment to be cherished for ever. The whole issue seems to have been handled with a total lack of sensitivity, imagination and grace.

K. Balaakesari,

Chennai