PUNE: Noted film and television actor Sumit Raghavan was honored with the Nilu Phule award in a special ceremony held at MES Auditorium of BSM School at Mayur Colony Kothrud yesterday. The award was presented by acclaimed film actor Sachin Khedekar in the presence of Gargi Phule Thatte, daughter of Late Nilu Phule and Sameer Belvalkar. This is the second edition of this award which has been instituted by the family members of Late Nilu Phule and Belwalkar sanskrutik Manch. The award is in the form of a citation, Gandhi Cap, and Rs.21000/- cash. After the award function noted anchor Rajesh Damle interviewed Sumit Raghavan.
“How we are as a person apart from being an artist matters a lot and one must make a conscious effort to be a good human being. I never got an opportunity to meet Nilu Phule but I was thrilled to hear from his daughter that he was fond of one of my television serials“, said Raghavan.
He expressed concern over the condition of the public theatres in our country and said that the condition of theatres in Western countries is far superior as their approach is to conserve and not renovate. He also opined that folk and professional artists need to come together to perform traditional folk art in a bid to save it.
In the photo from left Sameer Belvalkar, Sachin Khedekar, Sumit Raghavan, and Gargi Phule Thatte.
