Sanjay Leela Bhansali Commences BAFTA Campaign For Gangubai
Sanjay Leela Bhansali has officially started a British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA Awards) campaign for his acclaimed film Gangubai Kathiawadi, starring Indian actress Alia Bhatt in the lead role. The 76th British Academy Film Awards, the UK’s biggest celebration of global excellence in film, will take place at the Royal Festival Hall in London in February 2023. The picture will be considered in all categories including Best Film, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Leading Actress and Film Not in the English Language. It is Bhansali’s second film to enter BAFTA.
Gangubai Kathiawadi premiered at the 72nd Berlinale International Film Festival in February earlier this year, where it received a standing ovation and rave reviews. The film went on to earn a total of over $23 Million (£19.9M) at the global box office. After a successful worldwide theatrical run, the film streamed on Netflix landing at No.1 (Non-English Film) in the first week. It has become the second most viewed non-English language film on the streamer globally to date. Bhansali will be visiting the British capital for numerous events to support the campaign. He will share valuable insights into his three-decades-long career at a BAFTA Masterclass on 28th November.
Shankar Mahadevan To Be Honoured By Birmingham City University
Award-winning Indian singer and composer Shankar Mahadevan is to receive an honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University (BCU) for his outstanding contribution to music and the arts. In Mumbai, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street made the announcement on behalf of the University. This was done before the globally acclaimed playback singer and member of the celebrated Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy songwriting trio in Mumbai was formally invited to receive the University’s highest honour at a ceremony in 2023. The announcement follows a BCU India and West Midlands India Partnership-organised visit by Mr Mahadevan to BCU’s £400m campus featuring state-of-the-art creative industry facilities and schools, including Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC).
The Bollywood star toured RBC with fellow Indian musicians including Zakir Hussain earlier this year, meeting with students, staff and partners, and committing to exploring links and opportunities between the Bangalore-based Shankar Mahadevan Academy and the Conservatoire. BCU leaders have also called on industry and government to commit to increasing diversity in the arts and media industries to ensure equality and true representation, and a need to drive the STEAM agenda forwards – bringing together the Arts with STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) disciplines. The West Midlands trade mission, led by Mayor Andy Street, seeks to cement existing economic ties between India’s sub-regions and the West Midlands.
