India Centre celebrates special evening with Bollywood legends
The queen of Indian cinema, Ms Shabana Azmi, and the most celebrated screenwriter of the Indian cinema, Mr Javed Akhtar, will take part in a special evening hosted by the University of Southampton on Monday, 15 July, 2019.
This event, organised by the Southampton India Centre for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development and hosted by the University’s Faculty of Social Sciences, will feature Ms Azmi and Mr Akhtar engaging in a panel discussion followed by an open Q&A session.
Ms Azmi, winner of five national film awards, is a goodwill ambassador of the United Nations Population Fund and nominated member of Indian parliament. An ardent social activist and President of Mijwan Welfare Society, Ms Azmi will share her experiences and reflections on social justice and girls’ empowerment in India. Her talk will highlight the value and impact of education in empowering and transforming the lives of young girls in rural India.
Ms Azmi will also introduce the mission and achievements of Mijwan Welfare Society in Uttar Pradesh, an NGO named after her late father, poet and lyricist of Indian cinema Mr Kaifi Azmi. In 2012, the government of India awarded Ms Azmi with the Padma Bhushan, one of the highest civilian awards, for her outstanding contributions to the field of visual arts and social change in India.
Mr Akhtar, winner of five national film awards in India, is a poet, lyricist, social and political activist. He will join Ms Azmi to share his experiences and reflections highlighting the influence of Indian cinema on social transformation in India.
Mr Akhtar’s imaginations expressed through ‘magic words and dialogues’ resonated emotions and inspirations in Bollywood, and were instrumental in shaping the super stardom of Mr Amitabh Bachchan.
Mr Akhtar was also awarded the Padma Bhushan, in 2007, and the national Sahitya Academy Award in 2013 for his outstanding contributions to Indian cinema and literature. In 2009, Mr Akhtar was nominated to the upper house Rajya Sabha of the Indian parliament.
The event 'In Conversation' with Ms Shabana Azmi and Mr Javed Akhtar' is scheduled for 18.30pm on Monday, 15 July 2019 at the University of Southampton's Highfield Campus.
To attend the event, please register on Eventbrite. The tickets are free. The University encourages registration as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Please make sure to bring your ticket to the event.