Indiantelevision.com
Pics: Rons Bantwal
for Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (AF)

Mumbai, Feb 12: Zee Marathi gave away its annual Zee Gaurav awards for excellence in Marathi films and theatre, along with the annual awards for best Marathi movie and play in different sections as well as the Jeevan Gaurav (lifetime achievement) award were also announced.

In its ninth edition, Zee Gaurav announced awards from 20 categories in films, 12 categories in commercial plays and six categories in experimental plays.

Zee Marathi will air the event on Sunday 17 February at 7.30 pm.

In addition, Zee Gaurav felicitated theatre personality Damoo Kenkare, singer Suman Kalyanpur and music director Dashrath Pujari with the lifetime achievement award - Zee Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar.

The Marathi Paul Padate Pudhe (Marathi step going ahead) award was given to the mind behind Taare Zamin Par - Amol Gupte.

Sonali Kulkarni and Subodh Bhave were selected as best actor (female) and best actor (male) for Bakula Namdeo Ghotale and Man Pakharu Pakharu, respectively.

While Evadhasa Aabhal won best film and best direction award, Valu was selected for a special jury award.

In the plays category, Mukta Barve for Kabbadi Kabbadi and Atul Parchure for A Bhaau Doka Nako Khau got the best actor awards.

Kheli Meli won the best play and direction award.

The jury included director Satish Randive, Mangesh Kulkarni, Vidyadhar Pathare and Ujjwal Nirgudkar for films; Dr Hemu Adhikari, Suresh Khare and Satish Pulekar for commercial plays; and Sushma Deshpande, Achyut Vaze and Vijay Kenkare for experimental plays.

The Board of Governors included Dr Jabbar Patel, N Chandra, Kamalakar Sontakke and Jayant Salgaonkar.

The show also witnessed performances by Marathi actors. Shreyas Talpade performed on the songs of Om Shanti Om, with special appearance from other veterans from the Marathi film fraternity.

Zee Gaurav 2008 was presented by Parachute Jasmine. The other sponsors included State Bank ATM and Soft Corner.