Mumbai movie-lovers have a reason to rejoice -- Lord David Puttnam will be in town to deliver a lecture.

Lord Puttnam was universally acclaimed as Britain's leading producer of motion pictures from 1968-2000, with immortal films like Midnight Express, Chariots Of Fire, Bugsy Malone, The Killing Fields and The Mission to his name.

He is also the only non-American ever to lead a major Hollywood studio, with a stint as chair and chief executive of Columbia Pictures.

After enjoying great celluloid success, the legendary producer switched streams entirely and moved into education -- he is now chancellor of the University of Sunderland, chair of Britain's National Endowment For Science, Technology and the Arts, and UK president of UNICEF.

Lord Puttnam will deliver the third annual British Council-ABS public lecture on 'From Screen to School' on March 7 at 6 pm at the British Council auditorium.

The talk will delve into Lord Puttnam's personal odyssey, including his shift from cinema to academia -- a change that, he admits, many find puzzling.

He will recall his favourite films, his award-winning career and the significance of cinema in a turbulent and uncertain world. He will discuss what he believes are the dangers of Hollywood's ever-intensifying dominance in the celluloid world.

The lecture is open to all.

British Council, Mittal Tower, C Wing, 2nd Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai [Images] 400 021.
Ph: 022 - 22823560