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Prime Focus World wins Lumiere for ‘Sin City 2’
MUMBAI: Prime Focus World (PFW) has won the ‘Lumiere’ for its spectacular work on Sin City: A Dame to Kill For at the International 3D & Advanced Imaging Society’s 6th Annual 3D Creative Arts Awards held in Los Angeles on 28 January, 2015.
The Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller directed ultra-stylized comic book sequel Sin City 2 was awarded in the ‘Best Stereography – Live Action’ category and PFW was the exclusive VFX and 3D conversion provider as well as equity partner.
The 3D Creative Arts Awards honours the best in 3D image making, recognising outstanding achievement across all forms of creative content. Prime Focus founder, executive chairman and global CEO Namit Malhotra received the award at a function held at the Warner Bros. Studios, which was attended by eminent Hollywood personalities.
Accepting the award, Malhotra said, “This is an incredibly proud moment for all of us at Prime Focus World. Sin City 2 has been our largest commission to date and the whole global construct of Prime Focus came together in achieving something that I believe only Prime Focus would have been able to do. This was an opportunity to not only put our best foot forward creatively and technically, but also to take the next step in terms of defining a new business model. This was a huge commitment: to our filmmaking partners, in helping to make this film happen; to the industry, in showing that there is another way for companies such as Prime Focus to engage; and to our own future. I’m delighted with the way this has played out.”
Prime Focus chief creative director and co-founder Merzin Tavaria added, “We accept this independent industry recognition with great humility and pride. Our association with Sin City 2 has been a huge milestone in our global journey. Challenging opportunities such as these have enabled Prime Focus World to redefine 3D experience for the audiences’ world over and establish our leadership position in 3D conversion industry. We would like to thank the International 3D & Advanced Imaging Society for consistently acknowledging our work and honouring us three times in succession, which only validates our best-in-class creative credentials to deliver high quality 3D to the world’s most advanced film making community, Hollywood.”
2014 was a distinguished year for PFW’s 3D team as it delivered the biggest line up of Hollywood’s summer releases – Noah, The Amazing Spiderman 2, Maleficent, Edge of Tomorrow, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Guardians of the Galaxy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Sin City: A Dame to Kill for.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
