NYC honours Shabana Azmi for her contribution to cinema

New York: Padma Bhushan awardee Shabana Azmi has been honoured by the city of New York for her contribution to cinema and her involvement with the movie industry here, becoming the first Indian actor to receive the honour from the city. Azmi was presented with a ‘Proclamation by the City of New York’ yesterday honouring her “in recognition of her great contribution to the art of cinema and for her participation with the movie industry in New York City.” [caption id=“attachment_254547” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Reuters”]  [/caption] Azmi, 61, was presented with the proclamation by Patricia Kaufman, Executive Director of Motion Picture and Television Development from the office of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo as well as with a ‘Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition’ by New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. The proclamation also applauded her work as a social activist, noting that apart from being a “highly respected” advocate for social justice, she has worked tirelessly for other causes, including funding for displaced Kashmiri migrants and relief for victims of the Latur earthquake. “Coming from the city’s council in recognition of my work in cinema is obviously something that makes me very happy,” Azmi told PTI after receiving the honour. The proclamation added that her presence on the board of the arts organisation Indo-American Arts council (IAAC) has inspired hundreds of Indian film makers in the New York area for over a decade. “Shabana Azmi’s talent has garnered international acclaim, helping to shape the Indian film industry and build awareness of Indian cinema in North America,” Kaufman said at the ceremony here attended by several prominent members of the Indian American community. Describing Azmi as a “woman of extraordinary achievement hailing from a country rich in culture and traditions,“Kaufman extended Cuomo’s wishes to her on receiving the honour. PTI