The veteran lyricist-screenwriter Javed Akhtar is set to be honored with the Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award at the upcoming Ajanta-Ellora Film Festival. This recognition celebrates his remarkable contributions to the Indian film industry, including iconic works like ‘Zanjeer,’ ‘Deewar,’ ‘Sholay,’ ‘Don,’ ‘Kala Patthar,’ and ‘Mr India.’ The award ceremony will take place on January 3, 2024, marking the opening day of the ninth edition of the festival.Details of the Award CeremonyThe award ceremony will be held at the Rukmini Auditorium, MGM University campus, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The Padmapani Award, which includes a memento, a certificate, and a monetary award of Rs 2 lakh, will be presented to Javed Akhtar by the Ajantha-Ellora Film Festival Organizing Committee Chairman Nandkishore Kagliwal and Chief Guide Ankushrao Kadam.About the Ajantha-Ellora Film FestivalFormerly known as the Aurangabad International Film Festival (AIFF), the Ajantha-Ellora Film Festival is an annual event organized in collaboration with Nath Group, Yashwantrao Chavan Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, and the Government of India. The festival serves as a platform to showcase the finest films produced in India and around the world. It aims to engage the city of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and its film enthusiasts by providing exposure to diverse cinematic creations, both recent and classic.Objective of the Festival