Pune film festival to honour Amitabh Bachchan, Asha Bhosale

Legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan and veteran playback singer Asha Bhosale will be honoured for their outstanding contribution to the Indian cinema at the 10th Pune International Film festival (PIFF).

The coveted Sachin Dev Burman International award for creative music and sound will be conferred on prominent music director Ilayaraja.

The festival will be inaugurated on January 12 by Sanjay Devtale, minister of cultural affairs, government of Maharashtra at 4.30 pm at City Pride (Kothrud). Noted actor Rani Mukherjee and Gudmundur Eiriksson, Ambassador of Iceland in India, will be the guests of honour.

The festival has been organised by Pune Film Foundation in association with the state government. More than 240 films will be showcased at six different venues across 10 theatres in the city which includes City Pride Kothrud, R-Deccan, City Pride Abhiruchi (Sinhagad Road), E Square, Inox and National Film Archive of India (NFAI).

PIFF director Jabbar Patel said, “This year, we will present the festival on a bigger scale. This year, we have changed the title of the lifetime achievement award and we are going felicitate veterans like Amitabh Bachchan and Asha Bhosale with ‘Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema’ award. Such legendary personalities getting honoured at the festival will take the festival to a higher level. We are also felicitating noted actor Sachin Pilgaonkar for completing 50 years in cinema.’’

The inaugural film will be Top Floor Left Wing.