An honour for legendary Indian filmmaker: Yash Chopra
By Rama Gaind
“A legend of the Indian film industry” – Yash Raj Chopra – was honoured in Mumbai for outstanding achievement in film at a ceremony in Mumbai on October 29, 2009.
He was presented with the APSA 2008 FIAPF Award by the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producer’s Associations.
The award was announced at last year’s APSA ceremony which Mr Chopra was unable to attend due to a family bereavement.
This year the award was presented to him personally by FIAPF director-general, Benoit Ginisty, at the opening night celebrations of the Mumbai Film Festival.
Mr Chopra humbly accepted the award “as a recognition for the Indian Film industry as a whole and for myself personally”.
Presenting the award, Mr Ginisty said: “… we honour a legend of the Indian film industry, Mr Yash Chopra, for an outstanding career dedicated to cinematic excellence”.
APSA chairman Des Power congratulated Mr Chopra “for serving his industry with dignity and drive. He deserves our appreciation and well wishes for the future”.
Prolific filmmaker
Yash Chopra, as he’s popularly known, is a prolific Indian filmmaker and screenwriter and is said to be the most successful producer of Bollywood films to date.
At 77 years of age, his energy has not waned with his company continuing to diversify its interests.
The biggest banner in Bollywood – Yash Raj Films – is set to take the small screen by storm. Yash Raj Productions is making its debut on the small screen with its show Rishta.com and
Yash Raj Films has also launched its own music label called Yash Raj Music and produces DVDs, videos and VCDs under the Yash Raj Films Home Entertainment label.
Some of the highly successful movies which Yash Chopra has made as director include Waqt, Deewar, Kabhi Kabhie, Silsila, Dil To Pagal Hai and Veer-Zaara. He produced many more box office hits including Dhoom and Dhoom2, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Mohabbatein, Fanaa, Bunty Aur Babli, Salaam Namaste, Chak De India and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.
Yash Chopra initially worked as an assistant to I. S. Johar, and then for his director-producer brother, B.R. Chopra. He was given his first directorial opportunity in Dhool Ka Phool by Baldev Raj. Later he set up his own movie production company, Yash Raj Films.
In 1973, Daag was his first movie under the Yash Raj banner.
His string of hits with Amitabh Bachchan made him one of the golden directors who had a special working relationship with the Big B together with Ramesh Sippy, Prakash Mehra, Manmohan Desai and Hrishikesh Mukherjee.
Mr Chopra has received several Filmfare Awards and has countless other decorations to his credit.
Yash Chopra has received the Priyadarshini Award for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema by the Deputy Prime Minister Mr L.K. Advani.
He is the only Indian film producer and director to receive the BBC Asia Awards twice – in 1998 and 2001 for his outstanding contribution in films.
He was also chosen for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2001, the highest honour given in the Indian film industry.
For promoting tourism through his films, he has been awarded with a Certificate of Recognition from the British Tourist Authority, British Film Commission and the Swiss Government.
Yash Chopra has been honoured at several film festivals including receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 4th Pune International Film Festival 2006. He was honoured for distinguished service to the film industry, along with the Egyptian comedy superstar Adel Imam and the Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman, as the Asian, Arab and Hollywood ‘honourees’ at the Dubai Film Festival four years ago.
He has also received France’s highest civilian honour, Legion of Honour, and he was the first Indian to be honoured in the 59-year history of BAFTA with a lifetime membership for his contribution to the Indian film industry.
Long may Mr Chopra’s success continue!
