“While Punjab is my janmabhumi, Maharashtra is my karmabhumi,” said a visibly emotional Yash Chopra after receiving the Sant Namdev national award 2011 on Sunday.
The award, instituted by Pune-based non-governmental organisation, Sarhad, was conferred upon the veteran film-maker by Union minister for power, Sushilkumar Shinde, at SM Joshi hall in Navi Peth. It includes Rs1 lakh, a pagdi, Namdev Gatha and a citation.
“Though I have been felicitated several times, I have got so much honour and love from Puneites that I cannot compare it with anything else. I am proud of being a Punjabi and my Punjabi roots. The Punjabi language, the customs and traditions reflect in my films,” he said.
Chopra gave the credit for his success to providence. “There are two people, who have made a huge contribution to my career: Lata Mangeshkar and V Shantaram. Lataji considers me her brother. She is my didi and nothing can harm me till her blessings are with me,” he said.
“Right from my first film, Dhool Ke Phool, Lataji’s love has always been with me. When I became a producer, Annasaheb (V Shantaram) gave me the place to start my work,” the film-maker recalled.
Chopra made a donation of Rs1 lakh to Sarhad.
Shinde noted, “Sant Namdev, a saint from Maharashtra, whose writings have been included in the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred book of Sikhs, is a matter of honour for us.”
The minister added, “Yash Chopra has showed the grief in society through films like Dhool Ke Phool. He has contributed towards social equality through his films. He has led the Indian film industry to national and international levels. His thirst for knowledge and innovation is still intact at the age of 80.”
Sanjay Nahar, founder-president of Sarhad; Pune mayor Mohansingh Rajpal; industrialist Bharat Desalda and former minister of Punjab, Sucha Singh Chotepur; were also present at the award ceremony.
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