Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Satyajit Ray and Sahir Ludhianvi to be honoured at 20th edition of PIFF

The 20th Pune International Film Festival (PIFF), which will be held from 3 to 10 March, will celebrate the birth centenary of Indian classical music doyen Pandit Bhimsen Joshi,  legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray and acclaimed Hindi and Urdu poet and lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi.

Joshi, who hailed from Karnataka, is beloved for his popular renditions of devotional music. He received the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in 2009. Ray, the winner of as many as 36 National awards and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Academy Honorary Award, is widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. Ludhianvi, a Padma Shri awardee, wrote 718 songs for more than 111 Hindi films.

The festival will highlight these masters' impact on the world of cinema through various works of art inspired by their creations. 

Special programmes will be held during the festival to honour these stalwarts.

The online registration for the event began on 15 February while spot registrations commenced on 17 February at the festival venues between 11 am and 7.30 pm. 

PIFF 2022 will be held at PVR Icon in Pavilion Mall on Senapati Bapat Road, Cinepolis in Westend Mall in Aundh and the NFAI Auditorium on Law College Road.

The participation fee for the online and physical format is Rs600 and Rs700 respectively.

About 26 films can be seen through the online format of the festival. Whereas, film enthusiasts who wish to be a part of the festival happening in theatres will get an opportunity to watch 120 films from various countries.

Recently, organizers also announced the line-up for the World Competition, which include 14 shortlisted films.