Big B, Rekha, Parvathamma, Sridevi among lifetime awardees

The grand film festival held here to celebrate the 100th year of Indian cinema honoured legends who contributed to the movie industry and beyond on the closing night on Tuesday.

A glittering closing ceremony was organised at the Nehru Indoor Stadium in the presence of President Pranab Mukherjee to mark the valedictory function of the four-day festival,.

Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah, Chief Minister J Jayalalitha, her Kerala counterpart Oommen Chandy, Karnataka Infrastructure Minister Santosh Lad, leading actors and directors from across the country were also present on the occasion.

The valedictory session started with the launch of the audio version of a special anthem on 100th year of Indian cinema by the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, followed by the launch of special souvenir to commemorate the centenary celebrations.

Lifetime achievement awards were presented to Jayalalitha, herself a yesteryear actor, film legend Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi, Vyjayanthimala, Rekha, famous Kannada actor Ambarish, Kerala stalwarts Mammootty, Mohan Lal, Oriya actor Uttam Mohanty and others.

Noted Kannada film producer and director Parvathamma Rajkumar, actor Dwarakish and famous director K Balachander also received the awards.

Expressing concern over recent communal riots and crime against women and children, Mukherjee exhorted the entertainment industry to focus attention on creating cinema that contributes to social transformation and portrays positive values.

“The recent incidents of crime against women and children have shaken the conscience of the nation. We have also been witness to tragic communal riots in some parts of our country. We must find ways to reverse the erosion of our values,” the President said in his address.

Jayalalitha said the Indian film industry made rapid strides in the south, where Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films were taking South India by storm.