Javed Akhtar to receive the Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award

To be honoured at the opening ceremony of the 9th Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival.

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, December 9, 2023: An annual celebration of unique films from around India and the world, the 9th Ajanta-Ellora Film Festival (AIFF 2024) is going to be held from January 3 to 7, 2024 at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. This year, the most prestigious honour of the festival - the Padmapani, Lifetime Achievement Award will be conferred upon renowned poet, lyricist and screenwriter, Javed Akhtar for his invaluable contribution to Indian Cinema.

The declaration was made here today by Mr. Nandkishor Kagliwal, Chairman, AIFF organizing committee and Chief Mentor, Mr. Ankushrao Kadam. The Padmapani Award Selection Committee consisted of renowned film director, Girish Kasaravalli, renowned Hindi poet Mr. Ashok Vajpeyi and famous film critic, Ms. Latika Padgaonkar, Festival Director Ashok Rane and film director, Chandrakant Kulkarni. The award comprises a Padmapani Memento, citation and a monetary reward of rupees two lakhs.

The Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award will be conferred upon Mr. Javed Akhtar during the opening ceremony of the festival on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 7.00 PM at Rukmini Auditorium, MGM University Campus, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The ceremony will take place in the gracious presence of various national and international artists, eminent personalities from different walks of life and film lovers.

Javed Akhtar, known as the magician of words, has carved a unique place of his own through his memorable songs, ghazals, and film screenplays. He along with screenwriter Salim Khan has written the scripts of some of Bollywood's most iconic movies such as Sholay, Zanjeer and Deewar. Mr. Javed Akhtar was honoured with India's fourth highest civilian award, Padma Shri in 1999. He has also won the National award for 'Best Lyricist' five times and Filmfare award for 'Best Lyricist' seven times. He was honoured with the Richard Dawkins Award in 2020 for promoting democracy and progressive thinking.

AIFF is organised by the Marathwada Art, Culture and Film Foundation and presented by Nath Group, MGM University and Yashwantrao Chavan Centre, Mumbai. AIFF has the proud endorsement of FIPRESCI, a renowned international federation of film critics and FFSI, the Federation of Film Societies of India. It also enjoys the support of the Government of Maharashtra and the National Film Development Corporation Ltd, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. Nath School of Business Management and Technology (NSBT) and Abhyudaya Foundation are the co-organizers of the festival. Dailyhunt is the digital media partner and MGMU School of Film Arts is the academic partner of the festival.

Organizing Committee Chairman Nandkishor Kagliwal, Chief Mentor Ankushrao Kadam, Sachin Mule, Satish Kagliwal, Festival Director Ashok Rane, Artistic Director Chandrakant Kulkarni, Festival Convener Nilesh Raut, Creative Directors Jayprad Desai, Dyanesh Zoting, Shiv Kadam and Dr. Srirang Deshpande, Akash Kagliwal, Dr. Aparna Kakkad, Dr. Ashish Gadekar, Dr. Rekha Shelke, Prof. Dasu Vaidya, Dr. Anand Nikalje, Prerna Dalvi, Dr. Kailas Ambhure, Neena Nikalje, Nita Pansare, Subodh Jadhav have urged film and art lovers to participate in the festival.

For more information and updates about AIFF, please visit: www.aifilmfest.in