The Hindu : National : Shyam Benegal receives Netaji Award

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 24, 2006

National

National

Shyam Benegal receives Netaji Award

Special Correspondent

Theatre personality Sachin Khedekar also gets the award that comprises plaque, citation

REMEMBERING GREAT HERO: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee paying homage to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on the leader's birth anniversary in Kolkata on Monday. — Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

KOLKATA: Filmmaker Shyam Benegal was conferred the Netaji Award 2006 for his film "Netaji Subash Chandra Bose - A Forgotten Hero," by the Netaji Research Bureau here on Monday on the occasion of the 109th birth anniversary of Netaji.

Sachin Khedekar, a theatre personality, who played Netaji in the film was also given the award, as was posthumously, Col. Habib-ur-Rehman, a close associate of Netaji. Raveen Naeem, the late Col. Habib-ur-Rehman's daughter-in-law, came to the city from Islamabad to receive the award.

The awards which comprised a plaque and a citation were handed over by Krishna Bose, chairperson of the Netaji Research Bureau. West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi was present.

At another function a statue of Netaji was garlanded by West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. Jyoti Basu, veteran leader of the CPI(M) was present.

Speaking at the award presentation ceremony, Mr. Benegal said that the making of the film was itself the greatest award for him. "It was great to have an insight into such a great personality," he said.

Mr. Khedekar, said that portraying Netaji was a most memorable experience. The shooting of the film had begun this day in 2001.

Expressing her gratitude on being presented the posthumous award on behalf of Col. Habib-ur-Rehman, Ms. Naeem said that a large number of people in Pakistan considered Netaji a great hero and respected him for his courage in his struggle to free India from British rule.

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