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The 2011 edition of the Pune Festival took off to a muted start here today minus Suresh Kalmadi, still incarcerated in Tihar Jail, and sans much of the pomp and glitter it had gathered over the years.
Inaugural functions of the earlier 22 years were a reflection of the high political and social affiliations of its founding father, and Presidents, State Chief Ministers, Bollywood Stars and industrialists.
Dr Shanker Dayal Sharma, Sonia Gandhi, Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai were roped in for the inauguration.
This time round, State Cabinet Ministers did the honours.
Also conspicuous by her absence this year was the former star of the silver screen Hema Malini who never failed to perform, usually with daughters Esha and Ahana in tow, and premiered a new dance ballet every year.
The current edition of the gestival has a largely local flavour with a couple of Marathi dramas, classical Hindusthani vocal recitals by Sanjeev Abhyankar and Ashwini Bhide, and a medley of dance, music and kavi sammelans.
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