Renowned filmmaker Mani Ratnam was honoured with lifetime achievement award by the Karnataka State Government and BIIF on the occasion of valedictory of International Film Festival organized at Vidhana Soudha Bengaluru.
A 13-member selection committee, headed by Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy Chairman SV Rajendra Singh Babu, selected him. Mani Ratnam was awarded cash award of 10 lakh, citation and a memento.
The award was presented by Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He donated the whole cash amount to the Chief Minister and hoped that Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy President SV Rajendra Singh Babu would utilize the amount to help the youth who want to produce a movie.
Speaking at the event, Mani Ratnam said, "I was wary of accepting a lifetime achievement award because it is sort of an indication to quit. But this award came from home, Bengaluru, from where I started my film career. So, I am here. Whenever I passed this road, I always wondered why the government didn't give this majestic architectural marvel Vidhana Soudha for a film shoot. But I entered the building only today. It took so many films to come inside. It shows that someone will recognise you when you go on doing your work".
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, speaking on the occasion said "The quality of movies is important than the numbers. Our Government has fulfilled almost all the demands of the film industry. During our tenure, the state witnessed four international film festivals. To develop the programme into a big event, it was decided to conduct an inauguration in front of Vidhana Soudha and valedictory in front of Mysore Palace,” he said.
Mani Ratnam started his film career with a Kannada movie Pallavi Anu Pallavi in 1983 starring Anil Kapoor and Kiran Vairale portraying the lead roles before becoming big in Tamil.
Ratnam is currently busy shooting for his next multi-starrer Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, featuring an ensemble cast of Arvind Swami, Vijay Sethupathi, Simbu, Arun Vijay, Aishwarya Rajesh, Jyothika and Aditi Rao Hydari.
Bankrolled by Madras Talkies, double Oscar-winning AR Rahman has been roped in compose the music. Lensman Santosh Sivan will crank the camera and it’ll be his sixth collaboration with Ratnam. Chekka Chivantha Vaanam will also release in Telugu as Nawab and while interest around the film is skyrocketing, expectations are high as well.
(Content provided by Digital Native)