It was an honour to receive the National Award from Pranab Mukherjee: Mikhil Musale

Pranab Mukherjee, former President of India passed away today at the age of 84. And Gujarati filmmaker Mikhil Musale, who received the National Award for Best Gujarati Film for his directorial debut Wrong Side Raju in 2017 from him, says it was an absolute honour to share the stage with him. “The protocol of the ceremony is such that no one is allowed to be on the stage for more than a few seconds and so I didn’t really get a chance to interact with him, but it was an honour to receive the award from him,” says Mikhil.He adds, “He came across as a very bright and loveable person, with a warm and welcoming personality. For me, to be able to share the same stage and be there in the presence of such elite personalities was an experience in itself.”
He adds, “The National Award ceremony was followed by high tea, where all winners as well as the dignitaries gathered for a celebration and the former President also attended it. So, I just observed him going about speaking to others and you could make out that he appreciated artistic work and how everyone loved him. Being in the same room with people of that stature is a joy and an opportunity of a lifetime.”
Mikhil Musale, after making his directorial debut with Wrong Side Raju, made his Bollywood debut with Rajkummar Rao and Mouni Roy starrer Made In China. And right now, the filmmaker is busy making the most of his time by writing new scripts for his future projects.