Senior movie journalist and curator Uma da Cunha from Mumbai luggage the Staufer Award in Gold in Stuttgart/Germany

By Jyothi Venkatesh

The movie journalist and curator Uma da Cunha from Mumbai was awarded the Staufer Award in Gold in Stuttgart/Germany. The quotation learn thus. The awarding of a Staufer Medal is at all times a really big day. It provides me the chance to acknowledge distinctive people and to reward them for his or her life’s work, akin to yours, Mrs. da Cunha.

And but when an award ceremony is mixed with the worldwide setting and alternate of this type right this moment – Together with the opening and return of an important movie competition – Then it’s a significantly thrilling occasion. I’m subsequently very honoured to additionally welcome most of the individuals who assist to make this occasion in Stuttgart attainable – From India to Germany, from Stuttgart to Mumbai! One one that I do know regrets not having the ability to attend is State Secretary Petra Olschowski, who you all know has lengthy been a supporter of this competition and the partnership between BadenWürttemberg and Maharashtra. She sends her finest needs and hopes to be wholesome sufficient quickly to possibly expertise a few of this yr’s competition herself. However as troublesome as it’s, her loss is my profit right this moment. And ultimately, our focus right this moment is on you, Mrs. da Cunha, and all that you’ve performed to make this worldwide partnership and alternate develop through the years. As a result of your dedication to Indian movie goes again at the very least 50 years, beginning together with your work as a supporter of Movie Festivals with the Indian Authorities.

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But quickly after this expertise, you had been very fast to go out by yourself and start organizing movie festivals world wide, from Cannes to Berlin to Venice, finally crossing over to North America beginning in Toronto. The biggest Indian Movie Festivals on this planet have been influenced by you, from London to Los Angeles to New York. So it’s actually an honour then that you’ve helped put Stuttgart amongst this esteemed listing of locations for Indian Movie, having served as a curator of this competition since its very first occasion again in 2004. By serving to assist the Filmbüro Baden-Württemberg and Pageant Director Mahn, together with long-time supporter of this alternate, Honorary Consul Andreas Lapp, you could have made the Indian Movie Pageant Stuttgart into the most important celebration of Indian Movie in Europe. And that is actually a present from you each to the Metropolis of Stuttgart and your entire State of Baden-Württemberg. As a result of the Indian Movie Pageant takes us on a journey yearly to a rustic of nice storytellers. Since its founding, the Indian Movie Pageant Stuttgart had made a spotlight of displaying movies which, convincingly and fearlessly, and with honesty and with out regard for taboos tackle the challenges trendy India is going through.

The chosen movies give attention to probably the most urgent problems with our time and present us a real reflection of Indian society. Subsequent to the magic that everyone knows from the world of Bollywood, these movies take care of the true actuality of life in trendy India: From coping with a spread of points from the results of digitalization to globalization, or trendy politics in India, or the position of ladies and the stress between deeply rooted traditions, previous position fashions and the want for a contemporary life. These are movies which may be understood the world over – thrilling, socially crucial, and but additionally actually entertaining. This competition invitations us yr after yr to take a journey by way of the world of Indian impartial movie and expertise India and all of its variety first-hand. But an integral a part of the Indian Movie Pageant goes past cinema and continues to be the Tea Talks. And for you, Mrs. da Cunha, the Tea Talks have typically been a household affair, akin to when your husband, Mr. Gerson da Cunha, was right here to offer us his personal views of Stuttgart’s twin metropolis of Mumbai.

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The “Tea Talks” present how the Indian Movie Pageant not solely sees itself as a cultural occasion. The Movie Pageant is somewhat a significant a part of the continual alternate between India and Baden-Württemberg – A protracted-standing bridge between cultures and other people. This competition paves the best way for cooperation between our states. I’m satisfied that the mutual understanding of a rustic’s tradition and traditions is critical for us to work collectively sooner or later. This competition gives a platform to make this alternate attainable.

Your entire program of the Indian Movie Pageant helps us to construct belief and understanding for Indian tradition. This competition encourages us to cross borders, be inquisitive about different cultures and methods of pondering, and to see the world from a brand new perspective. Due to this affect, the Indian Movie Pageant is a key a part of the partnership between the States of Baden-Württemberg and Maharashtra.

A partnership made official with the settlement in 2015 and one which continues to develop. A partnership that you simply, Mrs. da Cunha, by way of your work with this alternate and this movie competition helped to make attainable. And that’s the reason we’re honoring you right this moment.

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As a result of you aren’t solely an envoy of Indian Movie for the world, but in addition a connection between our states – from your property in Mumbai to right here in Stuttgart, which I hope you see as a second dwelling. So that’s the reason our Minister President, Winfried Kretschmann, has chosen to award you with this important honour from the State of Baden-Württemberg, the Staufer Medal in Gold. The Staufer Medal is awarded to those that do excellent work for our State and group. But it isn’t solely a matter profession accomplishments, however an honour of your id and persona. It’s actually a citizen’s medal, one which honours those that go above and past for others. Your work, expensive Mrs. da Cunha, is an excellent instance of civic engagement for alternate between Germany and India, Baden-Württemberg and Maharashtra.

It’s due to folks such as you that we stay in a society the place world understanding is feasible. For this, I wish to categorical my appreciation and gratitude on behalf of the State Authorities of Baden-Württemberg. And as well as, my private admiration on your dedication and achievements through the years. Now, if you’ll excuse me as I briefly change to German to learn the certificates aloud to award you the Staufer Medal of the State of Baden-Württemberg on behalf of our State Minister President, Winfried Kretschmann.