Biswajit Chatterjee, Farida Jalal, Asha Kale, and Amar Haldipur to Receive PIFF Awards

Pune (Voice News Service):Pune, January 2, 2026 – Veteran actors Biswajit Chatterjee, Farida Jalal, and Asha Kale will be honoured with the PIFF Distinguished Award for their remarkable contributions to Indian cinema. Celebrated violinist and composer Amar Haldipur will receive the S.D. Burman International Award for his outstanding contribution to music.

The announcement was made today by Dr. Jabbar Patel, President and Director of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF), at a press conference.

The 24th Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) 2026, jointly organised by the Pune Film Foundation, the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra, and Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, Mumbai, will take place from January 15 to 22, 2026.

Dr. Patel also unveiled details of the Marathi film competition, Marathi Cinema Today, along with workshops and other festival highlights. Pune Film Foundation trustees Dr. Mohan Agashe, Satish Alekar, Sabina Sanghvi, Kishori Gadre, senior film critic and selection committee chairman Samar Nakhate, committee member Abhijit Randive, Deputy Director Vishal Shinde (Program & Film), and Deputy Director Aditi Akkalkotkar (International Relations & Coordination) were present at the press conference.

The 24th Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) will open on January 15 at E-Square Theatre, and the closing ceremony and awards function to be held at Balgandharva Rangmandir. Screenings are scheduled across 10 venues in Pune. Online registration is available at www.piffindia.com, and on-site registration begins on January 5.

The Marathi film competition will be judged by an international jury. The winning film will receive the Maharashtra Government’s Sant Tukaram Award for Best International Marathi Film, along with a cash prize of ₹5 lakh.

Marathi Competition:

1- Adishesh – Dir – by Ramesh More

2- Toh, Ti Ani Fuji – Dir – Mohit Takalkar

3- Tighee – Dir – Jeejivisha Kale

4- Jeev – Dir – Ravindra Manik Jadhav

5- Gondhal – Dir – Santosh Dawkhar

6- Gaman – Dir – Manoj Naiksatam

7- Bappya – Dir – Sameer Tewari

Marathi Cinema Today:

1- Sohla – Dir – Saikaat Bagbaan

2- Mukkampost Bombilwadi – Dir – Paresh Mokashi

3- Maya – Dir – Aditya Ingale

4- Dwidha– Dir – Nilesh Bhaskar Naik

Workshops/ Talks/ Session:
B. Jeyamohan: Novel to Script [Vijay Tendulkar Memorial Lecture]
Session by Film City
Goran Radovanovic “How European and Independent Cinema Compete with Big American Cinema – Lessons for Regional Cinema.”
Dan Wolman “Film Constraint to Creativity: Thriving as an Independent Filmmaker”
Alireza Shahrokhi a Talk on ” Rise of Iranian Cinema”
Voices of Tomorrow: Conversations with Today’s Filmmakers – A talk with the current Marathi competition Filmmakers

Amar Haldipur is a veteran Indian music director, arranger, and violinist renowned for his extensive work in the Bollywood and Punjabi music industries. He is a highly skilled violinist and often incorporates folk, pop, and bhangra genres into his work.

He has arranged approximately 6,000 songs over several decades. He served as an arranger for legendary composers such as Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Madan Mohan, Khayyam, Anu Malik, and Nadeem-Shravan. He worked with Lata Mangeshkar and the English Wren Orchestra at Albert Hall in London and arranged the critically acclaimed ghazal album Meeraj-E-Ghazal for Asha Bhosle and Ghulam Ali.

His background scoring and composition work includes films like Shehenshah, Main Azaad Hoon, Ishq, Ghulam, and Auzaar. He is a key figure in Punjabi music, having composed for landmark films such as Shaheed-E-Mohabbat (1999) and Channa Sachi Muchi. His notable works include Raja Babu, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, and Yaar Mera Pyar.

Asha Kale (born November 23, 1948, Gadhinglaj) is a leading actress in the Marathi theatre and film industry. She started acting in plays at the age of 14. She received formal training in Kathak dance and initially also performed dance programs. Asha Kale’s first professional play was ‘Simevarun Parat Ja’ and her first film was ‘Tambdi Mati’.

Her theatrical career includes plays such as ‘Ek Roop Anek Rang’, ‘Ekhadi Tari Smitresha’, ‘Gahire Rang’, ‘Guntata Hriday He’, ‘Ghar Shrimantache’, ‘Dev Dinaghari Dhavla’, ‘Nal Damayanti’, etc. Her films include ‘Ardhangi’ (1985), ‘Ashi Rangali Ratra’ (1970), ‘Ashta Vinayak’ (1979), ‘Aai Pahije’ (1988), ‘Aitya Bilavar Nagoba’ (1979), ‘Kunkavacha Karanda’ (1971), ‘Kulswamini Ambabai’ (1984), ‘Ganane Ghungroo Haravale’ (1970), ‘Chandane Shimpeet Ja’ (1982), ‘Jyotibacha Navas’ (1975), ‘Tambdi Mati’ (1969), ‘Thorli Jau’ (1983), ‘Devta’ (1983), etc.

Farida Jalal (born May 18, 1949) is a renowned film and television actress. She has been working in the Hindi film industry since the 1960s. Farida Jalal rose to prominence in 1969 with her role as Rajesh Khanna’s leading lady in the landmark film Aradhana, a performance that firmly established her in Hindi cinema.

Since then, she has acted in many successful films. ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’, ‘Raja Hindustani’, ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, ‘Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai’, and ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ are some of her recent popular films. She has received Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress for the films ‘Paras’, ‘Henna’, ‘Mammo’, and ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’.

Biswajit Chatterjee, popularly known as Biswajit (born December 14, 1936), is a veteran actor, producer, director, and singer. He has worked as a lead actor in Bengali and Hindi films.

His films include Bees Saal Baad (1962), Mere Sanam (1965), Aasra (1964), Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi (1966), April Fool (1964), Kismat (1968), Do Kaliyan (1968), Ishq Par Zor Nahin (1970), and Shararat (1972). He was often paired with popular actresses such as Asha Parekh, Waheeda Rehman, Mumtaz, Mala Sinha, and Rajshree.