The Embassy Of Switzerland Felicitated Yash Chopra

The Embassy of Switzerland felicitated Bollywood dream merchant, Yash Chopra with the “Swiss Ambassador’s Award 2010” for his contribution in promoting ‘Brand Switzerland’ through his movies. The award was presented at a scintillating evening hosted at the lawns of the Swiss Ambassador’s residence on Monday, October 25, 2010.

Popular actor Deepika Padukone was present on the occasion and congratulated Yashji on being presented this prestigious award. The highlight of the evening’s cultural performances was the Swiss Ambassador’s opening of the ceremony with music from Waqt (1965) that he brilliantly played on a Flügelhorn. This was followed by colourful dance performances by troupes to songs from Yash Chopra’s films.

While presenting the award to Mr. Chopra, the Swiss Ambassador H.E Mr. Philippe Welti said “We are pleased to honour Mr. Yash Chopra with the first of its kind award. Mr. Chopra’s association with Switzerland dates back to 1965 when he was present at the very same lawns while shooting for his golden jubilee hit, Waqt. Our association has come a long way since then with numerous of his movies showing the splendid serenity of Switzerland. To many Indians, a Yash Chopra movie has been their window to a scenic dreamland… a window to Switzerland.”

“I am honoured by the gesture shown by the Swiss Ambassador H.E Philippe Welti by giving me this award. Switzerland has always been my first choice of destination for shooting outside India. Be it for its picture perfect snow capped mountains or lush green fields, it is truly a heaven on earth that has made every angle, every shot and every frame of my movies breathtaking with the scenes vividly etched in peoples’ minds” said Yash Chopra on receiving the Swiss Ambassador’s Award.

Mr. Chopra’s romance with Switzerland began during his honeymoon and has continued ever since. On many instances in the past, the Swiss Government has honored Yash Chopra for helping rediscover Switzerland - he was presented a special Award by screen goddess Ursula Andress, on behalf of the Swiss Government. The entire unit of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, the 1995 Bollywood blockbuster shot extensively in Switzerland, was given a rare Swiss recognition in Mumbai for its successful running for over 500 weeks. In fact, a lake in Switzerland has been unofficially named ’The Chopra Lake’ because of the way Mr. Chopra has used it in films.

Hence it was only apt when Mr. Chopra, who has shot a portion of all his films in Switzerland, felt the need to share his romance with the country with his fans and decided to partner with the reputed Brandinvest AG, in bringing the “YRF Enchanted Journey” to life - a tour which gives consumers a firsthand opportunity to live the authentic YRF experience by visiting original sites and locations in Switzerland used by Yash Raj Films.

Swiss Ambassador’s Award is presented to personalities, who have played an outstanding role in promoting relations between India and Switzerland. This award is being presented for the first time in 2010.

Some of the Yash Raj Films that have been shot in Switzerland are:
Chandni (1989) | Darr (1993) | Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) | Mohabbatein (2000) | Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2002) | Mujhse Dosti Karoge (2002) | Veer-Zaara (2004) |
Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (2007) | Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008)

London University To Honour Yash Chopra

At an inspiring and solemn graduation ceremony befitting the University of London, Mr. Yash Chopra was awarded an honorary higher doctoral degree, a DLit, a Doctor of Letters honoris causa, for having made an outstanding contribution to the field of cinema in his six decades of work in the Hindi film industry, by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

The function held on Friday, 23rd July 2010, opened with an impressive procession, which included Heads of Departments, Senior Management and the Presidents of the Students' Union, entering the Hall to a musical accompaniment. The Director and Principal of SOAS, Professor Paul Webley and The President of SOAS, Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, welcomed the graduates and their guests. One of the highlight of the ceremony was the Presentation of an honorary doctorate to Mr. Yash Chopra. Professor Rachel Dwyer, the public orator, read a citation in tribute to Mr. Chopra and the President, Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, presented the degree.

Mr. Yash Chopra's career and his work was compared with the greats of the Indian film industry. Professor Dwyer said that his films use a melodramatic form to show emotions at their deepest and rawest and that the dialogues and the song lyrics of Yash Chopra's films are remembered and recited almost as mantras, as they describe things that are hard to say, using language, imagery and music in a perfect balance. She pointed out that Yash Chopra continues to innovate with every film he makes and remains young at heart, always interested in how people think, feel and behave.

Mr. Yash Chopra's love of London and his connections with SOAS, one of the first universities to offer a course in mainstream Indian cinema, began in 1992. Professor Dwyer further said the graduates should be inspired by Mr. Yash Chopra's success, learn his dedication, hard work, focus and his ways of rising above failure, saying that his films have brightened the lives of people from the poorest to the richest, from heads of states to humble people. He has been honoured by royalty, presidents and prime ministers and this DLit was a mark of the esteem in which the academic community of professors and students holds him.

Mr. Chopra in his response said, "I am humbled by this honour and would like to thank SOAS for this recognition. My filmmaking has always been from the heart and I would like to pass on this same message to students all over the world".

Mr. Yash Chopra has previously been conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by The Leeds Metropolitan University, UK in 2007, The Punjab University, Chandigarh, India, in 2008 and The Guru Nanak University, Amritsar, India, in 2004, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.