The otherwise dull looking Kothrud CityPride Theatre in the calm and tranquil Karvenagar was abuzz recently when the tenth edition of Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) was about to kick start, with invitees inside the cinema hall and film lovers outside the compound wall eagerly waiting for the celebrities to enter the venue.
The atmosphere was charged with enthusiasm and there were smiles most faces, except those of a few journalists and cameramen, who were turned away from the main hall due to enormous audience presence at the venue.  The heavy rush was accounted to the presence of the much beloved film idol Amitabh Bachchan, being felicitated on the occasion.
The inauguration took place by lighting a samai (traditional brass lamp) at the hands of Rani Mukherjee, Big B, Dr Lagoo, Ashatai and Sachin Pilgaonkar, noted Marathi actor. Dr Jabbar Patel, organizer of PIFF, felicitated the celebrities. Famous celebrities from the tinsel town including singer Asha Bhosale, actor Sachin, Dr Shreeram Lagoo, actress Rani Mukharjee, music director-composer Ilaiyaraja and many other counterparts from across the globe were present on the dais. The State Cultural Minster Sanjay Deotale, National Film Achieves Institute (NFAI) chief Parshant Pathrabe and District collector of the city Vikas Deshmukh made their way to the event as per the protocol.
Sachin was felicitated for completing fifty years in the film industry. Clarifying that he dislikes calling the Indian Film industry Bollywood, he briefed the audience about its glorious history. Ilaiyaraja was honored with the Sachindeo Burman Award.

--SANJEEVANI DIDMISHE