Chopra, Khayyam and Anil Kapoor felicitated

Stalwarts of the Indian film industry including Yash Chopra, music director Khayyam and actor Anil Kapoor, were felicitated on Thursday for their contribution to cinema on the occasion of the closing ceremony of the eighth International MAMI film festival.

Chopra, Kapoor and Khayyam were felicitated by Maharashtra Culture Minister Ashok Chavan and members of the Mumbai Academy of Moving Images (MAMI).

The jury also awarded the international jury award decided by the FIPRESCI, the international organisation of film critics to Jhanu Barua's critically acclaimed Maine Gandhi Ko Nahi Maara.

Speaking on the occasion, Chopra said he was honoured by the award, terming it as "all the more special" because it was given by members of the film industry itself.

Kapoor too thanked the academy in his speech, saying "it would be too pompous to say that I have made any contribution to cinema. Rather it is cinema which has made all the contribution in my life."

Reminsicing about the start of his career as a music director, Khayyam also thanked Chopra for awarding him the music of Kabhie Kabhi which he said was a "turning point" in his career.

Secretary of MAMI Kiran Shantaram while apologising for the late start to the festival this year, said it would commence on January 5th next year.