Academy Award-winning composer AR Rahman was felicitated by President Ram Nath Kovind at the 65th National Film Awards ceremony held in New Delhi yesterday. AR Rahman has won two National Awards this year for Best Music for ‘Kaatru Veliyidai’ and Best Background Score for ‘Mom’. By bagging two awards, AR Rahman is now the only composer to have six National Awards. The record was earlier held by Ilaiyaraaja with five National Awards.

A controversy broke out following the change in format where the President would present the award to only 11 winners and most of the winners upset with this change in tradition decided to boycott the event as they felt it was an unfair decision. A majority of the awardees were not present at the National Film Awards 2018 ceremony, which began in the absence of President Kovind. Most of the awards were presented by Union Minister Smriti Irani, in the presence of Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. President Kovind made an appearance around 5:30 pm and presented the National Awards to Sridevi, Vinod Khanna, AR Rahman and 8 others, while the rest of the awards had already been presented by Irani. 

Late actress Sridevi’s posthumous award for Best Actress was received by her family Janhvi, Khushi and Boney Kapoor.

Late veteran actor Vinod Khanna was honoured with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award for his immense contribution to Indian cinema. His wife Kavita Khanna and son Akshaye Khanna receieved the award from the President.