Rituparno Ghosh wins prestigious Italian award

Mumbai, Nov 24 (IANS) Filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh has added another feather to his cap. This time by winning the prestigious Premio Arca D'Oro awarded by the Italian government.

This puts him in the illustrious company of past winners like musician Zubin Mehta and pianist-composer-singer Paolo Conti. But right now Rituparno is more amused than flattered because the award is to be given to him at the end of 2008 in Turin.

'They've even fixed on a date, Friday, 5th December, 2008, for the award. While I'm very impressed by their meticulous planning, who knows where I'd be a year from now?'

Having been a recipient of innumerable national and international awards, Rituparno is now being called the new-age Satyajit Ray.

'That's preposterous,' exclaims Ritu. 'Satyajit Ray is a Bharat Ratna, the winner of the Oscar for lifetime achievement. His films have won the highest national and international awards. How could I be compared with him? But, yes, Satyajit Ray's influence shows in my work.'

Wasn't Rituparno planning a film on the life of Ray?

'Not Satyajit Ray,' corrects Rituparno. 'He's too close to me historically and aesthetically to even attempt a film on his life. But, yes, Raj Kapoor...I do want to make a film on his life.'

'Anil Kapoor once offered that I make a bio-pic where he'd play Raj Kapoor. I like the idea. I think there's a lot of Raj Kapoor in Anil's personality. I wonder if Anil is still interested.'