With tainted Pune city Congress MP, Suresh Kalmadi, cooling his heels behind bars, the forthcoming 11-day 23rd Pune Festival is sure to miss its glitter.
The organisers have slashed the budget of the popular event from Rs1crore to Rs50 lakh as it is difficult to rope in sponsors. Even many Bollywood stars, who used to attend past editions of the
festival, could give it a miss this time.
The festival’s chief coordinator, Krishnakant Kudale, told reporters on Thursday that in the absence of Kalmadi, who has played a pivotal role in mobilising resources, the organisers are finding it difficult to get enough sponsors.
The Pune festival was started by Kalmadi in 1989, as a part of Ganeshotsav celebrations. The organisers said that Hema Malini, who is the patron of the event and has been performing at the festival, would not be attending the event this year.
“But Bollywood director Subhash Ghai and actors Jackie Shroff and Rati Agnihotri would attend the event,” the organisers said. Ghai would formally inaugurate the festival on September 2 at Ganesh Kalakrida Rangmanch.
Minister for co-operation Harshwardhan Patil will be the chief guest.
This year Symbiosis founder SB Mujumdar and prominent orthopaedic surgeon, KH Sancheti, will be felicitated with the Pune Festival award.
The festival’s cultural committee head, Satish Desai, said this year’s event will be dedicated to Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. A documentary on the legendary vocalist would be screened during the inauguration.
The ceremony will kick-start with Tukaram Daithankar’s shehnai recital. Later, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi’s disciple and noted vocalist, Upendra Bhat, will present abhangs.
