Hindi
VP, PM condole passing away of Yash Chopra
NEW DELHI: Vice President M Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and several union ministers have expressed shock at the passing away of famed filmmaker Yash Chopra.
Chopra died at the Leelawati Hospital in Mumbai yesterday, aged 80. He had been suffering from dengue and had been admitted around ten days earlier. The last rites were performed today in the presence of a large number of Bollywood personalities and his fans.
Ansari said Chopra‘s “valuable contribution to Hindi cinema and the wholesome entertainment his films gave us will be long remembered.”
Dr Manmohan Singh said: “An icon of Indian Cinema, Chopra entertained many generations with his rare creativity. He had an aesthetic talent to make his films look larger than life. His flourish in essaying romance and social drama was unmatched. Chopra established the popularity of Indian cinema internationally and was honoured by many governments. He will be remembered by millions of his fans around the world and his work as a director and producer will be treasured by the nation for many more generations.”
New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah said “Chopra was one of our greatest film makers. In his death, the Mumbai Film Industry has suffered an irreparable loss”.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni also expressed her condolences, saying, “Today, Indian cinema has lost one of its iconic personalities and a creative genius.”
“Through films, Yashji connected generations together. His idea of portraying love as the essence of life and relationships will fondly be remembered by all movie lovers. His death is a void which will be difficult to fill,” Soni said.
Hindi
MIFF 2026 to return to Mumbai; film entries open till April 12
19th edition to host WAVES Doc Bazaar, spotlighting global documentary talent
MUMBAI: The 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival 2026 is set to take place from June 15 to 21 at the NFDC Complex, with film submissions currently open and the deadline fast approaching on April 12.
Organised by the National Film Development Corporation under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the biennial festival remains one of South Asia’s most prominent platforms for documentary, short fiction and animation films.
Filmmakers, producers and content creators from across the globe have been invited to submit entries via the Film Freeway platform for the Competition Section. Offline submissions will not be accepted, reinforcing a fully digital entry process.
MIFF 2026 continues to sweeten the deal with a robust awards pool of Rs 55 lakh. The coveted Golden Conch for Best Documentary carries a top prize of Rs 10 lakh, alongside multiple awards across categories, making it one of the most lucrative non-feature film festivals in the region.
A key highlight this year will be the second edition of the WAVES Doc Bazaar, scheduled from June 16 to 18 alongside the festival. Designed as a hub for collaboration, the Doc Bazaar will feature a co-production market, viewing rooms and a work-in-progress lab, bringing together global buyers, sellers and creators under one roof.
Since its inception in 1990, MIFF has built a reputation as a serious showcase for non-feature cinema, drawing participation from filmmakers worldwide. The previous edition saw over 350 films from more than 30 countries, underlining its growing international footprint.
With submissions closing soon and preparations underway, MIFF 2026 is shaping up to be a vibrant meeting point for storytelling, collaboration and cinematic craft, offering filmmakers both a stage and a springboard.
