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RS Prasad chief guest at CII organised India Evening at Cannes
MUMBAI: Minister of state for information and broadcasting Ravi Shankar Prasad will be the chief guest at the first ever CII organised India Evening at Cannes scheduled for 19 May 2003. The Hinduja group and the Zee group are amongst the Indian companies who will be participating in the India pavilion.
A CII statement claims that a strong Indian contingent will hardsell India’s entertainment industry at this year’s Cannes Film Festival 2003 from 14 May to 24 May. The first-ever India Evening on the lines of the India Evening at Davos is being held at the Carlton beach in Cannes. Also, like last year, there will an Indian Pavilion showcasing 40 world-class Indian films.
Priya Dutt (daughter of Nargis and Sunil Dutt) will introduce the India Evening. Ambassador of India to France Savitri Kunadi, CII president Anand Mahindra, India Cannes Film Festival 2003 chairman Shekhar Kapur will be the co-hosts. Bollywood heart-throb Aishwarya Rai will be there as she is the first Indian to be included in the nine-member Cannes jury.
At the India evening, each decade will be epitomized by a live song chronicling a particular era, says the CII statement. The 60s, the era of the “simple” woman, will feature films like Guide and Sahib Biwi aur Ghulam. The 70s will bring back the decade of the Dum Maro Dum rebels. The 80s, the beginning of the “assertive Indian woman” will cast Tezaab. The 90s, the era of the “aggressive Indian woman, will showcase Baazigar. Finally, the new millennium will show the “new Indian woman” – through crossover films such as Bend it Like Beckham and Monsoon Wedding. Shilpa Shetty will portray the role of Indian women in each of the decades.
The CII also claims that the evening will be extensively publicised through local public relations agencies in Cannes and through television in India.
At Cannes 2003, CII’s aim will be to project a comprehensive image of India and its film industry. The idea will also be to paint a larger picture of India as a favoured destination- not just for the cinematic experience but also for investment, for leisure, for trade and for education.
CII has booked 130 sq m space inside the Palais. Companies participating in the India pavilion include Verma Corporation, Ramoji Film City, the Hinduja Group, Popcorn Entertainment, Reel Entertainment, Reel Express, Crossover Films, State of Goa and CA Films.
Other Indian companies present at Cannes include various exporters: the Eros group, National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), the Zee group, WEG India and many others.
The Cannes Film Market brings together over 7,000 participants from 70 countries, including 1,600 buyers. 1,400 screenings of 700 different films, a majority of which are world premieres, are organised in the 30 venues.
The market serves as an excellent platform to interface with international filmmaking community and will help the Indian film industry understand the international production, distribution and exhibition market scenarios better.
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.
