Shabana Azmi will be honoured with the Excellence in Cinema Award at the 2024 edition of the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. As the actress completes nearly five decades in Bollywood, her journey in cinema will be celebrated with a special screening of one of her most acclaimed films, Arth.
The official statement from the organisers reads, “Shabana Azmi has carved a unique niche through an illustrious career in parallel cinema, garnering accolades on global platforms while emerging as a pioneer in mainstream Indian cinema. A true trailblazer, she is among the first leading ladies to effortlessly balance the worlds of art-house and commercial cinema, showcasing the sheer power of her craft.”
“Charting an exceptional course, Azmi has portrayed a diverse array of characters, collaborating with some of the finest filmmakers, including Shyam Benegal, Mahesh Bhatt, Satyajit Ray, Goutam Ghose, Mrinal Sen, Basu Chatterjee, Sai Paranjpye, Saeed Akhtar Mirza, Shekhar Kapur, Tapan Sinha, Deepa Mehta, Vishal Bhardwaj, Mira Nair, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Karan Johar,” the statement mentioned.
The statement also read, “As a founding board member of MAMI, Azmi has played a pivotal role in enriching Mumbai’s cinematic culture, ensuring that exceptional films from around the world are accessible to audiences in Mumbai. Her commitment to fostering a diverse film community underscores her belief in the power of storytelling to transcend boundaries.”
Festival Director, Shivendra Singh Dungarpur said, “It is a privilege for MAMI to honour Shabana Azmi, an iconic actor, with the Excellence in Cinema Award this year. Her remarkable versatility and extraordinary body of work over 50 years, beginning with her award-winning debut in ‘Ankur’ in 1974, has enriched the fabric of Indian cinema with some of the most memorable women characters. MAMI had the distinct pleasure of honouring her in 1999 for her remarkable contributions over 25 years, and we are fortunate to continue witnessing her work and celebrate her golden jubilee.”
MAMI will present the Excellence in Cinema Award to Shabana Azmi on October 18. This will be followed by a masterclass on October 19 in conversation with National Award-winning actor Vidya Balan, and will offer insights into Azmi’s journey and experiences over five decades in the industry.
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