Bhojpuri Film Awards 2007 to be held in Mumbai in March

Mumbai, Feb 14 (UNI) The Second Bhojpuri Film Awards (BFA) to honour the regional industry, which is making its presence felt in recent times, will be held in Mumbai on March 25.

The award ceremony was earlier scheduled for February 16.

Actor and politician Govinda has been recently appointed as the official brand ambassador of the awards. He will also perform at the Bhojpuri event. Bhojpuri Superstar Ravi Kissen will make his public appearance after reality show Big Boss with a live performance along with top Bollywood artistes and well-known Bhojpuri artistes.

Melody King Udit Narayan will pep up the crowd with his hits from Bhojpuri and Bollywood films. Many thespians, doyens and celebrities of the Bhojpuri and Hindi film industry will be present to grace the occasion.

The event will be jointly produced by the Bhojpuri World Magazine and the Go Fish Opportunities, said Mr Vinod Gupta, founder and president of the Bhojpuri Film Awards and editor of the newly-launched magazine Bhojpuri World, at a press conference.

''Bhojpuri awards commenced last year as we felt the need to give Bhojpuri industry its due importance and honour. It was indeed touching that Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu had graced us with their presence in the first Bhojpuri award ceremony. This year, we expect it to grow bigger and better by the presence of respected dignitaries from the industry.'' Mr Gupta said the BFA was conceptualised because of his passion to save and encourage ancient Bhojpuri culture and heritage.

Govinda, who was present at the conference said, ''Bhojpuri is where my roots are -- this is in my blood and nerves. My mother Nirmala Devi was from the eastern UP, Banaras.'' ''Bhojpuri culture and tradition gave us great personalities, great Sufi saints, great artistes, great leaders and now I got this opportunity. I am thankful to Vinod Guptaji for his gesture and promise; I will be available for this great cause any time and shall leave no stone unturned to serve the best of my abilities,'' he said.

UNI