V.SHANTARAM AWARD for life time achievement conferred to Mr. RAM MOHAN

Mumbai International Film festival (MIFF-2006) for documentary, Animation & Short films was ingurated here on January 3, 2006, by Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Minister of Maharashtra. The Chief Minister conferred Dr.V.Shantaram Award for Life time Achievement to Mr. Ram Mohan, noted animation Film maker & `father of Indian animation' and a pioneer in the animation movement in India. Mr. Ram Mohan was honored with memento, and cash Prize of Rs. 2.50 lakh.

The festival opened with the inaugural film “Yello Fella” (Australia- 25mins), Oscar nominated film Torzia 9a 13mins Slovenial film) and Ryan ( 13mins animation film from USA).

This week long is a biannual festival has been attended by serious documentary lovers from all over the world and will show case 186 films from 30 countries. The festival had emerged as one of the top most International film festivals at par with Berlin, Leipzig Cracow and Tampere film festivals.

Mr. Ram Mohan “The Father of Indian Animation Industry”

Ram Mohan, born 1931, in Chennai in India, a science graduate from the university of Chennai joined films division as a a trainee animator under the noted Walt Disney animator Clair Weekes (1956-59). He scripted & designed several films for films division and participated in world Restrospective of Animation Cinema in Montreal in 1967. Later he joined Prasad Productions as a chief of animation division. In 1972 he started his own banner ‘Ram Mohan Biogarphics’. In 1997 he shaked hands with United Studio Ltd and formed RM-USL. He is having several award winning films in his crown including Ramayana: The Legend of Rama, The friendly Planet, Swarna Sangam, etc.