Renowned South Asian singer Runa Laila will receive India’s prestigious ‘Minar-e-Delhi’ honor at the 15th Delhi International Film Festival on May 4. The event, confirmed by Laila herself, will be held at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts and Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in Delhi, continuing until May 8. The festival will feature 175 films from 60 countries, with a focus on women’s empowerment, social and child-related issues, and encouraging female filmmakers. The event is supported by India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Culture, and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.

Runa Laila expressed her joy at being selected for the award, thanking festival president Ram Kishore and the organizing institutions. The Minar-e-Delhi honor has previously been awarded to figures such as former Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Russian actress Xenia Rebekkanna, and Indian artists Sharmila Tagore and Tigmanshu Dhulia. The letter sent to Laila highlighted her decades-long contribution to music and film, describing her work as a cultural bridge between India and Bangladesh.

The festival will also feature prominent participants including Sharmila Tagore and Rituparna Sengupta.