Maharashtra cabinet minister and Mumbai Bharatiya Janata Party State President Ashish Shelar on Tuesday lauded the legacy of the state's prestigious Marathi film awards as the Maharashtra State Marathi Film Awards celebrated its Diamond Jubilee in Mumbai, reported news agency ANI.

Addressing the gathering, Shelar said the awards, instituted by the state government and the Department of Cultural Affairs, have now completed sixty years, marking a significant milestone in the history of Marathi cinema.

Shelar said, "Today, on behalf of the Maharashtra government and the cultural affairs department, the state film award, a very prestigious award, was organised here in Mumbai. This is the Diamond Jubilee. It has been sixty years since this award was given. More than 80 awards have been given in the last two years to writers, directors, actors, lyricists, composers, backstage artists, all of whom have made our films proud, have been awarded," reported ANI.