Mumbai, Mar 8 (UNI) The 9th Mumbai Academy of Moving Images (MAMI) international film festival was inaugurated today at the Y B Chavan Centre here.
The inaugural lamp was lit by luminaries like Yash Chopra, Manmohan Shetty and Ramesh Sippy among others, while singer Raageshwari compered the event.
The festival, dedicated to the memory of late Hrishikesh Mukherjee, veteren Hindi filmmaker and founder Chairman of MAMI, will continue till March 15.
During the inaugural function, Amitabh Bachchan was presented the 'Special Award to Salute Indian Cinema's Global Icon'. Receiving the award Mr Bachchan said ''Hrishida was like a godfather to Jaya and me. He was a simple man with simple habits who made memorable films.
I am overwhelmed by the love people have showered on me. They have been with me in times of joy and sorrow. When I could not stand on my feet it was the love and prayers of people who got me back. I thank you for the love showered on me and my family Jaya, Abhishek and would-be-daughter-in-law Aishwary Rai. However, I truly believe that it is the Indian film industry which is the real global icon.'' ''The job of cinema is to entertain, but there is a difference between cinema and circus. Cinema records contemporary dreams, hurts bruises, sorrows and fantasies. Historians record moments of history. Cinema is the historian of the common man. Technology and corporates are trying to make us a global village, but cinema started this process a long time ago. I believe good cinema brings good people together, like a caravan. And however insignificant, I am a small part of that caravan,'' noted lyricist, poet and scriptwriter Javed Akhtar said after he was presented with the 'Lifetime Achievement Award'.
Pyarelal of the Laxmikant-Pyarelal duo, was conferred with the Special Lifetime Achievement award. The Laxmikant-Pyarelal have given music to films like 'Dosti', 'Daag', 'Sargam',' Bobby', 'Karz', 'Hero', 'Utsav', 'Naseeb', 'Amar Akbar Anthony', ' Roti Kapda aur Makan' to name a few.
Speaking on the occasion, Pyarelal said ''All the filmmakers we have worked with have been good, like the late Raj Kapoor, Manmohan Desai and Subhash Ghai. Without Laxmikant I would not have been here today.'' MAMI Chairman Shyam Benegal said ''100 films from 32 countries including India, will be screened at the week-long international event. The Chinese film ''The Curse of the Golden Flower'' is the inaugural film while Mira Nair's ''Namesake'' is the closing film.
The highlight of the event will be a competition for Indian films where 12 films from different languages are competing. A five- member international jury headed by Girish Karnad will judge the best film which will receive a cash prize.
Also present on the occasion were Shabana Azmi, Shyam Benegal, Kiran Shantaram, Tina Ambani, Romesh Sharma and son, Govind Nihalani, Raza Murad, Girish Karnad to name a few.
UNI
The inaugural lamp was lit by luminaries like Yash Chopra, Manmohan Shetty and Ramesh Sippy among others, while singer Raageshwari compered the event.
The festival, dedicated to the memory of late Hrishikesh Mukherjee, veteren Hindi filmmaker and founder Chairman of MAMI, will continue till March 15.
During the inaugural function, Amitabh Bachchan was presented the 'Special Award to Salute Indian Cinema's Global Icon'. Receiving the award Mr Bachchan said ''Hrishida was like a godfather to Jaya and me. He was a simple man with simple habits who made memorable films.
I am overwhelmed by the love people have showered on me. They have been with me in times of joy and sorrow. When I could not stand on my feet it was the love and prayers of people who got me back. I thank you for the love showered on me and my family Jaya, Abhishek and would-be-daughter-in-law Aishwary Rai. However, I truly believe that it is the Indian film industry which is the real global icon.'' ''The job of cinema is to entertain, but there is a difference between cinema and circus. Cinema records contemporary dreams, hurts bruises, sorrows and fantasies. Historians record moments of history. Cinema is the historian of the common man. Technology and corporates are trying to make us a global village, but cinema started this process a long time ago. I believe good cinema brings good people together, like a caravan. And however insignificant, I am a small part of that caravan,'' noted lyricist, poet and scriptwriter Javed Akhtar said after he was presented with the 'Lifetime Achievement Award'.
Pyarelal of the Laxmikant-Pyarelal duo, was conferred with the Special Lifetime Achievement award. The Laxmikant-Pyarelal have given music to films like 'Dosti', 'Daag', 'Sargam',' Bobby', 'Karz', 'Hero', 'Utsav', 'Naseeb', 'Amar Akbar Anthony', ' Roti Kapda aur Makan' to name a few.
Speaking on the occasion, Pyarelal said ''All the filmmakers we have worked with have been good, like the late Raj Kapoor, Manmohan Desai and Subhash Ghai. Without Laxmikant I would not have been here today.'' MAMI Chairman Shyam Benegal said ''100 films from 32 countries including India, will be screened at the week-long international event. The Chinese film ''The Curse of the Golden Flower'' is the inaugural film while Mira Nair's ''Namesake'' is the closing film.
The highlight of the event will be a competition for Indian films where 12 films from different languages are competing. A five- member international jury headed by Girish Karnad will judge the best film which will receive a cash prize.
Also present on the occasion were Shabana Azmi, Shyam Benegal, Kiran Shantaram, Tina Ambani, Romesh Sharma and son, Govind Nihalani, Raza Murad, Girish Karnad to name a few.
UNI
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