72nd National Film Awards: President Murmu urges stars to stop endorsing harmful products
Synopsis
At the 72nd National Film Awards in Kevadia, President Droupadi Murmu delivered a direct public appeal to India's biggest film stars: stop endorsing products harmful to health. She also called for women on film jury panels and for better social security for below-the-line workers — turning India's most prestigious film ceremony into a platform for accountability.
Key Takeaways
President Droupadi Murmu addressed the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Kevadia, Gujarat on 22 September .
She urged India's biggest film stars to stop endorsing products harmful to health , saying 'the job of a star is to spread light.' She called for greater female representation on National Film Awards jury panels , noting a majority of honourees at the ceremony were women.
She appealed to industry leaders to ensure social security and respect for labourers, small artistes, assistants, and strugglers in the creative economy.
The President noted she had made a similar appeal at the previous National Film Awards ceremony , framing it as a call for cultural change.
President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday, 22 September used the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Kevadia, Gujarat, to deliver a pointed appeal to India's biggest film stars — asking them to stop endorsing products that could damage public health. Speaking at the close of the awards function, Murmu framed the request around the outsized influence celebrities hold over India's youth.
What the President Said
Addressing the assembled film fraternity, President Murmu said: 'Film artistes, who are extremely popular, have the huge power to influence the people of the country, especially the youth. When popular film stars talk about the importance of a disciplined lifestyle, people sit up and take notice. The people follow them. I would like to request the biggest stars of India to refrain from endorsing anything that may prove to be harmful to the body. The job of a star is to spread light.'
The remarks came at the close of a ceremony at which a majority of honourees were women — a detail the President noted as she called for greater female representation on jury panels. 'A majority of artistes honoured today include women. Hence, the jury panel should also include women in the decision-making. It's imperative to accommodate the perspective of a woman in every aspect of life,' she said.
A Call for Social Security in the Creative Economy
President Murmu went beyond celebrity endorsements to speak for workers at the lower rungs of the film industry. She urged award recipients and industry leaders to extend care and social security to labourers, small artistes, assistants, and strugglers who form the backbone of India's creative economy.
'You are all the representatives of the creative economy. I would request all of you to take care of labourers, small artistes, assistants, and even strugglers who make a huge chunk of the creative economy so that they get social security and respect,' she said. Notably, this was not a first-time appeal — the President indicated she had raised the same concern at the previous National Film Awards ceremony as well.
Context and Significance
The appeal on harmful product endorsements resonates in an environment where celebrity advertising for tobacco-adjacent products, alcohol surrogates, and high-risk financial instruments has drawn sustained criticism from health advocates and regulators. While India's advertising laws require statutory warnings on certain categories, enforcement against celebrity-fronted campaigns has remained inconsistent. The President's public nudge at a high-visibility national platform adds moral weight to a debate that has so far been largely confined to policy circles.
The 72nd National Film Awards recognise films released in 2024, and the ceremony in Kevadia is among the most prominent annual cultural events in the country. The venue — home to the Statue of Unity — has hosted national events of significance in recent years.
What Happens Next
The President's remarks are not legally binding but carry significant symbolic authority, and are likely to renew pressure on industry self-regulatory bodies and the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) to tighten celebrity endorsement guidelines. Whether the film industry acts on the appeal — or whether it becomes a recurring ceremonial note — will be closely watched in the months ahead.
Point of View
With limited industry accountability. What is notable here is the repetition — the President says she raised this at the previous ceremony too, suggesting the appeal has not yet translated into action. If the film industry treats this as a ceremonial formality once again, the question is whether any mechanism beyond moral suasion can actually shift behaviour.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did President Droupadi Murmu say at the 72nd National Film Awards?
President Murmu urged India's top film stars to stop endorsing products that could harm public health, arguing that celebrities have enormous influence — particularly over the youth. She also called for more women on National Film Awards jury panels and for better social security for lower-rung workers in the creative economy.
Where was the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony held?
The ceremony was held in Kevadia, Gujarat, on 22 September. Kevadia is also home to the Statue of Unity and has hosted several major national events in recent years.
Which films do the 72nd National Film Awards recognise?
The 72nd National Film Awards recognise films released in 2024 across Indian cinema, covering multiple languages and categories.
Why did the President call for women on film award juries?
President Murmu noted that a majority of artistes honoured at the 72nd ceremony were women, and argued that the jury panels making those decisions should therefore also include women. She said it is 'imperative to accommodate the perspective of a woman in every aspect of life.'
Is this the first time the President raised concerns about the creative economy's lower-rung workers?
No. President Murmu indicated she had raised the issue of respect and social security for labourers, small artistes, and assistants at the previous National Film Awards ceremony as well, and said it should become a standard part of the work culture in the creative economy.
