Pune International Film Festival starts with an ode to 'Mughal-e-Azam'

The 9th  edition of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) kicked off here on Thursday after its inauguration by the state environment and cultural affairs minister, Sanjay Deotale. 

Popular Marathi actress Sonalee Kulkarni and her troupe enthralled the audience with their lavani performance. On the occasion of Mughal-e-Azam completing 50 years, noted Kathak dancers Sharvari Jamenis and Payal Vrunda mesmerised the audience with their Kathak performance on melodies and costumes from the landmark film.

Veteran Bollywood actress Shashikala was presented with the Life Time Achievement award. Expressing her gratitude for the award she said, “I hope the audience will love me forever.”

Since eminent actress Saira Banu couldn’t attend the function due to ill health of her husband, Dilip Kumar, director Subash Ghai accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Sachin Dev Burman international award for Creative Music and Sound was given to legendary music composer, Khayyam, who dedicated it to his guru. “I reached here because of my guru, hence I consider the award as the gift of my guru,” he said.

“Puneites are very loving and I have never seen such great connoisseurs of music anywhere else,” Khayyam added.