Karnataka government honours Actress Shabana Azmi

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi on Monday was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Karnataka government at the 16th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFES).The award, which carries a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, was presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his official residence Kaveri.

The Chief Minister lauded Shabana's contribution to Indian cinema, recalling her role in the iconic unity song 'Mile Sur Mera Tumhara' and her debut in Kannada cinema with 'Kanneswara Rama'. He acknowledged her five-decade-long influence in both South Indian and Hindi films.

During the ceremony, Shabana and her husband lyricist-poet-scriptwriter Javed Akhtar expressed their admiration for Karnataka’s rich musical traditions. The Chief Minister highlighted the contributions of legendary Hindustani musicians from the state, including Bhimsen Joshi, Kumar Gandharva and Gangubai Hangal.

Siddaramaiah also announced government initiatives to support artists and the film industry, including efforts to strengthen copyright laws and advocate for artist benefits under GST before the GST Council.

The event was attended by several distinguished guests, including Government Secretary Kaveri, CM’s Media Advisor KV Prabhakar, Commissioner of Information and Public Relations Hemant Nimbalkar, Additional Chief Secretary LK Atheeq, Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy President Sadhu Kokila, and BIFFES Artistic Director Vidyashankar.

The Chief Minister, who also inaugurated BIFFES at Vidhana Soudha on March 1, announced plans for a worldclass film city in Mysuru. The 150-acre project aims to encourage films that blend human values with technology and establish Karnataka as a premier hub for global filmmaking.

Siddaramaiah emphasised that BIFFES serves as a crucial platform for international storytelling, furthering Karnataka’s aspirations to be at the forefront of cinema in India and beyond. (UNI)<>