Kolkata, Jan 31 (UNI) Legendary actor Soumitra Chatterjee was conferred the 'Légion d'honneur' by the French government, here, yesterday.
French ambassador Alexandre Ziegler gave the award to Chatterjee in a glittering ceremony last night.
With his award the veteran Bengali actor and the Dadasaheb Phalke awardee becomes the fourth Indian actor after Sivaji Ganeshan, Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, and co-incidentally the fourth Bengali persona to get the highest civilian award of France.
Earlier Satyajit Ray, Pandit Ravi Shankar and Amartya Sen have been awarded from Bengal.
After being awarded by the highest French civilian award, the thespian said, “I am really pretty unsure about what I have actually done and were those worthy enough of this prestigious award, but no doubt this evening is one of the most remarkable evenings in my life. I will remember the evening always. I am really grateful to the Government of France for being so generous to me.”
French Ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler said, “Soumitra Chatterjee needs no introduction. He is the legend of not only Indian cinema but he has enriched the art quotient of world film segment too.
Earlier his mentor and legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray has been conferred this prestigious civilian award and now again government of France is honoured to confer on Soumitra Chatterjee 'Légion d'honneur'. This evening is special for us too.”
France, which is the centre of European culture, is the focal theme of the 42nd International Kolkata Book Fair (IKBF) inaugurated yesterday. This is the third time when France is being highlighted as the theme country.
Incidentally, this is also the year India and France are celebrating 70 years of their diplomatic relationship.
UNI XC-AND