IDEA IIFA Outstanding Contribution Award

The star-studded night of 10th IDEA IIFA Awards will see Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Oscar winner AR Rahman receive the special IDEA IIFA Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Indian in International Cinema at Macau on June 13th. Mr. Pradeep Shrivastava, Chief Marketing Officer of Idea Cellular, the presenting sponsor of the 10th IDEA IIFA Awards made this announcement here today.

The IDEA IIFA Awards ceremony will see electrifying performances by Anoushka Sharma, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan, Lara Dutta and Riteish Deshmukh.

Leading designers like Rocky S, Manav Gangwani, Anamika Khanna, Farah Ali Khan and Hong Kong designer, Chris Chang will showcase their designs at IIFA Fashion Extravaganza on Day 2 of IIFA Weekend. The Extravaganza will feature show stoppers like Hrithik and Suzanne Roshan for Farah Ali Khan and the always-chic Sonam Kapoor for Anamika Khanna amongst others. The IIFA Fashion Extravaganza will be hosted by the stylish duo, Zayed Khan and Sophie Choudhury. Adding glamour to the evening, international singing sensation, Peter Andre will perform at the IIFA Fashion Extravaganza held at The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel.

Following the IIFA Fashion Extravaganza is the exhilarating IDEA IIFA Awards that will showcase the best of the best that the Indian Film Fraternity has to offer.

The IIFA Fashion Extravaganza has a special significance as it supports the IIFA Foundation which was set up in 2003. It is a charity organization set up by IIFA to support families of the film industry workers who have been adversely affected during the production of films. Each year at the IIFA Weekend, IIFA hosts charity celebrity events that are supported by eminent cine stars.

Wizcraft International Entertainment Ltd. Director, Sabbas Joseph said, “The IIFA Foundation was initiated to support families of Indian film industry workers. We will host the IIFA Fashion Extravaganza to showcase the best of Indian and Chinese fashion, while contributing to a cause that we feel strongly about. The IIFA Fashion Extravaganza receives overwhelming support every year, and once again top designers have lined up to stand by this significant initiative. The IDEA IIFA Awards ceremony at CotaiArena will be the grand finale of the weekend.”

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Pradeep Shrivastava, Chief Marketing Officer, Idea Cellular said, “IDEA IIFA Awards offer a unique platform to showcase the significance of mobile technology in the entertainment arena. Our relationship with IIFA will facilitate a unique experience for our customers by bringing them the IDEA IIFA Awards, for another 3 years. This year, we look forward to the IIFA Fashion Extravaganza that will set the tone for the glamorous Awards night.”

IIFA’s longest standing partner, IDEA Cellular will offer a range of value added services and exciting contests for over 44 million subscribers across the country.

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About IDEA Cellular Ltd.:

IDEA Cellular Ltd. is a leading GSM mobile services operator with over 44 million subscribers, under brand IDEA. It has licenses and spectrum to operate in all 22 service areas of India, with commercial operations in 17 service areas, currently. IDEA is listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India.

IDEA Cellular is an Aditya Birla Group Company, India’s first truly multinational corporation. The group operates in 25 countries, and is anchored by over 125,000 employees belonging to 25 nationalities.

About IIFA

The International Indian Film Academy, conceptualized and produced by Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.is supported by the key members of the Indian film fraternity. IIFA is the most respected South Asian film academy and its main highlight, the IIFA Awards is India's biggest media event. With a viewership of almost 600 million worldwide, the IIFAs are among the world's most-watched annual entertainment events.

From a one night celebration in 2000 at the Millennium Dome, London, the last nine years have seen the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) movement grow into a cine-packed weekend of film-festivals, workshops, exhibitions, film-showcases, global business forums and sporting events, all of which climaxes into the IIFA Awards. The IIFAs have been celebrated in London, Sun City, Johannesburg, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Amsterdam, Yorkshire and the last edition was hosted by Thailand in the amazing city of Bangkok. This year, IIFA celebrates its 10th anniversary scheduled for June 2009 at The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel in China. IIFA 2009 vows to be a virtuoso, enthralling Weekend; while the IIFA Awards will seek celebrate A Golden Decade in Indian Cinema.