©Rohan Shrestha

At the 77th Locarno Film Festival, Indian superstar and global icon Shah Rukh Khan will be honored with the Festival’s career achievement award, the prestigious Pardo alla Carriera Ascona-Locarno Tourism. This award celebrates his remarkable career in Indian cinema, spanning over 100 films across a multitude of genres. Known in India as ‘King Khan’ or the ‘Baadshah’ of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan symbolizes the vibrancy and vitality of Indian cinema. He will receive the award on the evening of Saturday, August 10 on Piazza Grande. Additionally, a key film from Khan’s career, "Devdas" (Sanjay Leela Bhansali, 2002), will be screened during the Festival, and Khan will participate in a public conversation at the Forum @Spazio Cinema on Sunday, August 11.

Shah Rukh Khan’s films are globally loved, making him a hugely popular figure worldwide. He has represented his country and his films at numerous prestigious film festivals globally. His breakout role was in the romantic thriller "Baazigar" (1993), where he played a sympathetic anti-hero seeking vengeance. He achieved superstar status with the timeless romantic drama "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" (1995) and the love story "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" (1998). Despite his fame, Khan took on diverse and ahead-of-their-time roles, such as Rahul in "Darr" (1993), a romantic psychological thriller, and a journalist in love with a terrorist in the epic "Dil Se.." (1998).

Over the past two decades, Khan has collaborated with India’s most prominent directors and stars, earning international recognition. He was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2007 and the Légion d'honneur in 2014 by the French government. His recent releases in 2023, including "Pathaan," "Jawan," and "Dunki," were commercial successes and appreciated by global audiences. "Jawan," produced by Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment, became the highest-grossing Hindi film ever, reaffirming his status as one of the most beloved Indian stars of his generation.

Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival, stated: “Welcoming a living legend like Shah Rukh Khan in Locarno is a dream come true! The wealth and breadth of his contribution to Indian cinema is unprecedented. Khan is a king who has never lost touch with the audience that crowned him. This brave and daring artist has always been willing to challenge himself while remaining true to what his fans all over the world eagerly expect from his films. A true ‘people’s hero’, sophisticated and down to earth, Shah Rukh Khan is a legend of our times.”

The Tribute Program

Shah Rukh Khan will receive the award on the evening of Saturday, August 10, at Piazza Grande. A key film from his career, "Devdas" by Sanjay Leela Bhansali (India, 2002), will be shown during Locarno77. On Sunday, August 11, at 1:30 PM, the public can meet Khan during a panel conversation at the Forum @Spazio Cinema.

The Pardo alla Carriera is supported by Ascona-Locarno Tourism, which promotes tourism in Lake Maggiore and the natural beauty surrounding Locarno. Nestled between lake and mountains, Locarno provides a stunning backdrop for its film festival, blending natural landscapes and cultural celebrations into an immersive experience. As the only major film festival set in nature, attendees can enjoy a 360° cinematic experience against the scenic Ascona-Locarno region.

Previous winners of the Pardo alla Carriera include Francesco Rosi, Claude Goretta, Bruno Ganz, Claudia Cardinale, Johnnie To, Harry Belafonte, Peter-Christian Fueter, Sergio Castellitto, Víctor Erice, Marlen Khutsiev, Bulle Ogier, Mario Adorf, Jane Birkin, Fredi M. Murer, Dante Spinotti, Costa-Gavras, and Tsai Ming-liang (2023).

Shah Rukh Khan – Biography

Born in 1965 in New Delhi, Shah Rukh Khan has been one of Bollywood’s most recognizable faces for over thirty years. Starting in television in the late 1980s, Khan transitioned to feature films with "Deewana" (1992) and soon became a superstar in Indian cinema and a global icon. He has acted in musicals, crime films, historical dramas, and many more genres. In 2002, he founded his production house, Red Chillies Entertainment, a key player in the Hindi-language film industry. He has appeared in over 100 feature films, earning 14 Filmfare Awards, the Padma Shri from the Government of India, and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and Légion d’honneur from the French government.

The 77th Locarno Film Festival will take place from August 7 to 17, 2024.

 The Maitree Exercise, a joint military drill between the Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army, begins at Fort Vachiraprakan in Tak Province, Thailand. This two-week event, lasting until July 15, 2024, marks a pivotal moment in the military collaboration between the two nations.

#WATCH | The joint military exercise MAITREE 2024, between the Indian Army and the Royal Thailand Army, is underway at Tak Province in Thailand.

Exercise MAITREE 2024 will continue till 15 July with additional training activities aimed at further enhancing the operational… pic.twitter.com/dAbp2QPZ4i

— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2024

The investigation by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) into the accident involving the Kanchanjunga Express and a goods train on June 17 in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district, which resulted in 10 fatalities, has been completed, and a final report is awaited.

Officials have confirmed that three railway employees—the superintendent of Rangapani Station, the signal technician for the Rangapani-Chattarhat section, and the guard of the goods train that collided with the Kanchanjunga Express—have been suspended.

The accident occurred at 8:55 a.m. on June 17, between the Rangapani and Chattarhat stations of the Katihar Division of the Northeast Frontier Railway. A high-speed, container-carrying goods train collided with the Kanchanjunga Express on the same track, causing the derailment of four rear coaches of the passenger train and five wagons of the goods train.

Concerns were raised regarding the failure of the automatic signal system and the manual memos issued by the Rangapani station master to both the Kanchanjunga Express and the goods train. The accident claimed the lives of three railway employees: the driver of the goods train, a guard of the Kanchanjunga Express, and a Railway Mail Services employee. Initially, the Railways blamed the goods train crew for the incident. The accident, which occurred under the jurisdiction of the Katihar Division of Northeast Frontier Railway, led to one of the surviving goods train loco-pilots testifying before the CRS.

A senior Railway official clarified that the suspension of the employees was not a form of punishment but a procedural step to ensure their availability for the CRS inquiry. “If they are found guilty after the inquiry, appropriate action will be taken,” the official stated.

Following the accident, the Railways initiated comprehensive renovations of running rooms to support loco-pilots. “This initiative aims to improve the working conditions and well-being of loco-pilots and assistant loco-pilots, ensuring they are well-rested and mentally prepared for their crucial responsibilities,” said a press statement by Eastern Railway on Friday.

The statement emphasized the significant sensitivity and responsibility of a loco-pilot’s job, which requires utmost focus and a sound mindset. “Recognizing this, Eastern Railway has undertaken extensive renovations to create state-of-the-art facilities that cater to the holistic needs of loco-pilots,” the statement added.

General Knowledge Questions

1. Name the sports player from Andhra Pradesh who received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award:

   • a) Saina Nehwal
   • b) Karnam Malleshwari
   • c) Sania Mirza
   • d) Sneha Deepthi
   • Answer: b) Karnam Malleshwari

2. Name the capital of Andhra Pradesh before Hyderabad:

   • a) Vijayawada
   • b) Kurnool
   • c) Srikakulam
   • d) Visakhapatnam
   • Answer: b) Kurnool

3. Name the largest district in Andhra Pradesh in terms of area:

   • a) Hyderabad
   • b) Kurnool
   • c) Anantapur
   • d) Kadappa
   • Answer: c) Anantapur

4. How many districts are there in Andhra Pradesh?

   • a) 13
   • b) 14
   • c) 17
   • d) 21
   • Answer: a) 13

5. Name the first dynasty that ruled the Vijayanagara Empire:

   • a) Tuluva dynasty
   • b) Sangama dynasty
   • c) Aravidu dynasty
   • d) Saluva dynasty
   • Answer: b) Sangama dynasty

6. In which year did the state of Andhra Pradesh form?

   • a) 7th March 1936
   • b) 1st October 1953
   • c) 8th June 1951
   • d) 9th March 1954
   • Answer: b) 1st October 1953

7. Andhra Pradesh was separated from which state?

   • a) Bombay
   • b) Madras
   • c) Travancore-Kochi
   • d) Karnataka
   • Answer: b) Madras

8. Who was the first person to translate Mahabharata into Telugu?

   • a) Vemana
   • b) Pothana
   • c) Nannayya
   • d) Tikkana
   • Answer: c) Nannayya

9. Name the official language of Andhra Pradesh:

   • a) Tulu
   • b) Munda
   • c) Telugu
   • d) Sadri
   • Answer: c) Telugu

10. Who was the first Prime Minister from Andhra Pradesh?

    • a) PV Narasimha Rao
    • b) KR Narayanan
    • c) VV Giri
    • d) N Sanjiv Reddy
    • Answer: a) PV Narasimha Rao

11. Who among the following poets does not belong to the group of Kavitraya (three great poets)?

    • a) Tikkana
    • b) Nannaya
    • c) Pothana
    • d) Yerrapragada
    • Answer: c) Pothana

12. Who among the personalities became the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh?

    • a) NT Rama Rao
    • b) MG Ramachandran
    • c) KKR
    • Answer: a) NT Rama Rao

13. In which year was NTR elected as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh?

    • a) 1983
    • b) 1963
    • c) 1953
    • Answer: a) 1983

14. In which year was Andhra University established?

    • a) 1926
    • b) 1932
    • c) 1937
    • d) 1949
    • Answer: a) 1926

15. Who was the author of Gaha Sattasai?

    • a) Kundala Satkarini
    • b) Hala
    • c) Yerrapragada
    • d) Sarva Varma
    • Answer: b) Hala

16. Telangana was separated from Andhra Pradesh in the year:

    • a) 2000
    • b) 2010
    • c) 2012
    • d) 2014
    • Answer: d) 2014

17. Name the first Telugu movie (full-length):

    • a) Lavakusa
    • b) Kalidas
    • c) Vande Mataram
    • d) Bhaktha Prahlada
    • Answer: d) Bhaktha Prahlada

18. On which river was the Srisailam bridge built?

    • a) Tungabhadra
    • b) Krishna
    • c) Godavari
    • Answer: b) Krishna

19. Which was the first Telugu newspaper?

    • a) Deshabhimini
    • b) Bharatui
    • c) Satya Doota
    • d) Andhra Patrika
    • Answer: a) Deshabhimini

20. In which year was Ramoji Film City established?

    • a) 1980
    • b) 1996
    • c) 2000
    • d) 1993
    • Answer: b) 1996

21. Who directed the first Telugu movie?

    • a) H.M. Reddy
    • b) Nageswara Rao
    • c) C. Pullaiah
    • Answer: a) H.M. Reddy

22. On the bank of which river is Vijayawada located?

    • a) Krishna
    • b) Tungabhadra
    • c) Gundlakamma
    • d) Godavari
    • Answer: a) Krishna

23. Name the city called the Jewel of the East Coast:

    • a) Hyderabad
    • b) Guntur
    • c) Visakhapatnam
    • d) Tirupati
    • Answer: c) Visakhapatnam

24. Who was the founder of Hyderabad State Congress?

    • a) P.V. Narasimha Rao
    • b) NTR
    • c) Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy
    • d) Swami Ramanand Thirtha
    • Answer: d) Swami Ramanand Thirtha

25. Name the state animal of Andhra Pradesh:

    • a) Sambar deer
    • b) Indian elephant
    • c) Nilgiri tahr
    • d) Blackbuck
    • Answer: d) Blackbuck

26. Which was the first novel in Telugu?

    • a) Rajasekhara Charitramu
    • b) Antarmukham
    • c) Hemalatha
    • Answer: a) Rajasekhara Charitramu

27. Who was known as Andhra Kesari?

    • a) Swami Ramanand Tirtha
    • b) Tanguturi Prakasam
    • c) Sreerangam Srinivasa Rao
    • Answer: b) Tanguturi Prakasam

Certain Facts about Andhra Pradesh

• Andhra Pradesh is bounded by Tamil Nadu to the south and Karnataka to the west.
• The state has three main physiographic regions: coastal plains, mountain ranges, and the Eastern Ghats.
• Telangana was separated from Andhra Pradesh in 2014, after being part of Andhra Pradesh for six decades.
• Hyderabad serves as the capital for both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
• The state experiences three climatic seasons: summer (March to June), tropical rains (July to September), and winter (September to February).
• The coastal plains are filled with mangrove swamps and palm trees.
• One-fifth of Andhra Pradesh's area is covered by forests, with teak, bamboo, and rosewood in abundance. Common trees include mango and banyan.
• Common fauna includes blackbucks, hyenas, sloth bears, tigers, and gaurs.
• The official language of Andhra Pradesh is Telugu.
• Andhra Pradesh produces the majority of India's barite.
• The governor, appointed by the President of India, is the executive head of the state.
• The current Chief Minister is Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
• The state has a total of 13 districts.
• The state secretariat is located in Hyderabad.
• The judiciary is headed by the High Court, with the High Court for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana based in Hyderabad.

Surprising Facts About Andhra Pradesh

• Andhra Pradesh is home to the only pillar in the world that is suspended in the air.
• Pingali Venkayya, the designer of the Indian National Flag, hailed from Andhra Pradesh.
• Amaravati, one of the oldest places in India, is also known as the People’s Capital.
• Andhra Pradesh holds the record for the largest banyan tree in the world.
• The state has produced three Indian Presidents: Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Venkata Giri, and Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy.