A.R. Rahman receives his award at the ceremony in New Delhi. Pic/Pallav Paliwal

The National Film Awards were presented today but protests over the president handing over the honour to only a select set of winners cast a shadow over the 65th edition of the highest government recognition for the film industry with many of the recipients staying away. In a departure from tradition, the function, held at Vigyan Bhavan, was divided into two phases.