MFF Opens, Stars Shine

Like Helen, several film personalities, invited by Chopra, walked the MFF red carpet on Tuesday evening.

Helen receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from Akshay Kumar.

Those who could take their minds off Helen’s unmatched dance moves, which blazed across the big screen for decades, and shift their focus to her eyes, would have noticed an unmistakable glint in them. That was visible on Tuesday evening too. She received the Lifetime Achievement award at the opening ceremony of the 16th Mumbai Film Festival (MFF), presented by actor Akshay Kumar. “I am tongue-tied,” said the legendary actor-dancer when asked to say a few words. Then she read out from the teleprompter: “Akshay speaks. Helen speaks. Helen leaves.” Before the laughter died down, she said, “I was four years old when I came to India from Rangoon. It has been a long journey.” She also admitted to being reluctant to receive the honour before MFF’s creative director Anupama Chopra prevailed in convincing her. The other Lifetime Achievement award winner was legendary French actor Catherine Deneuve.

Like Helen, several film personalities, invited by Chopra, walked the MFF red carpet on Tuesday evening to express solidarity with this major film event of the city. When the very existence of the event was threatened by fund constraints earlier this year, a clutch of film personalities, such as Chopra, Kiran Rao and Anurag Kashyap, stepped forward to help it tide over the crisis. Thanks to their efforts, Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Deepika Padukone among others, were at Juhu’s Chandan theatre to make it a star-studded affair. Others have taken up different roles — Kalki Koechlin as the opening ceremony’s anchor showed her funny bone; Huma Qureshi, Gauri Shinde and Homi
Adajania are the jurors for Dimensions Mumbai; and Ritesh Batra is part of International Competition jury.

With Rs 3.5 crore raised so far, the festival organised by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) is still dealing with a massive shortfall. Yet, for the organisers, rolling out the event on Tuesday was nothing short of a “miracle”. And that was made possible by crowd-funding. Shyam Benegal, chairman, MAMI, said, “It is a festival run by Mumbai’s film professionals. Now, it is financed by them. Even television channels and industrialists have come forward to make this happen. Such efforts should continue.”
alaka.sahani@expressindia.com

Alaka Sahani

Alaka Sahani is a prominent film critic and journalist based in Mumbai. With a career spanning over two decades, she has established herself as one of India’s most authoritative voices in cinematic journalism, known for an analytical approach and insights that transcend the standard cycle of celebrity journalism. Expertise & Accolades In 2014, Alaka was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Film Critic. Her Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) citation specifically lauded her for "highlighting facets of cinema beyond glamour and gossip" and for her ability to delve into the contemporary relevance of iconic filmmakers. Her commitment to journalistic integrity was further recognised in 2019 with a Special Mention at the Red Ink Awards for her investigative feature, 'In Search of a Star'. Her article titled 'People Like Us', published in The Indian Express on March 27, 2022, was shortlisted for Red Ink Award, 2023. Global Industry Leadership Alaka’s expertise is sought after by major international and domestic film bodies: Golden Globes: In 2025, she joined the international voting body for the 83rd Annual Golden Globes. National Film Awards: She served on the prestigious jury for the 68th National Film Awards, helping select the finest contributions to Indian cinema. Global Perspective: Her work consistently bridges the gap between commercial Bollywood A-listers and emerging independent talents, offering nuanced insights into both Indian regional cinema and international film trends. Focus & Vision Beyond the screen, Alaka is a dedicated observer of Mumbai’s vibrant theatre scene and the historical evolution of the moving image. Through her long-form articles and deep-dive interviews, she continues to challenge "tried-and-tested" templates, providing readers with a deep understanding of the artistic and systemic workings of the Indian and global film industry. ... Read More

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