Indian film celebrities Shabana Azmi and Farah Khan are among the invited recipients of international awards to be announced at the University of Leicester Dec 7.

Veteran filmmaker Jagmohan Mundhra is also lined up for the Global Media Award presented by the Triangle Media Group (TMG), according to a release from the university.

Leicester Councillor Manjula Sood, who is a postgraduate from the university, will also be honoured for her outstanding contribution to local politics.

The Triangle Media Group's online global awards were initiated at www.trianglemediagroup.org by Australian media tycoon and legal scholar David Flint.

The university's law graduate and critically acclaimed theatre actor Haresh Sood, is the global ambassador of the online awards and will present them at a ceremony, which will also consist of a lecture and film clips by Mundhra.

Mundhra will discuss his forthcoming movie "Provoked" starring Aishwarya Rai and the story's legal significance to the university's law school professors and students.

Sood said: "The TMG awards bi-annually celebrate, recognise and honour the top 50 South Asian and foreign achievers that have made an outstanding mark and contribution in the global mainstream media.

"I am so pleased to say that this year's award magazine, which can be bought online is full of exceptional talent and highlights the crème de la crème of the top 50 global achievers and four honorary winners.

"The committee has been scouting for a venue for the awards for some time and Leicester has been chosen as it is one of the most harmonious and cosmopolitan cities around the world with a unique mixture of many races and nationalities.

"The law school, where I studied, has an international reputation and given the context of the film 'Provoked', it is apt that the event is being held at the University of Leicester."

Priya Chhaya, academic officer from the University of Leicester Law Society, which is hosting the event, said: "The Society is delighted to hold this unique event. It has particular relevance for our students, as the film 'Provoked' is based on the highly influential House of Lords case.

"Provocation is a vital topic within third year criminal law and also overlaps with other modules such as criminology. We believe that the evening will be academically relevant, as well as enjoyable."

The TMG online awards, which were launched in 2004, have also been supported by Tessa Jowell, minister for culture media and sport.

Jowell said: "I was so interested to read about the Triangle Media Group Alliance for foreign artistes and I am delighted to say, the excellence and quality of the Britain's cultural and sporting activities ensure that our reputation for creativity and innovation is renowned worldwide.

"I am delighted that South Asian artistes have an opportunity to demonstrate their own rich and diverse range of talent and skill to the rest of the world through this campaign."

Patricia Hewitt, MP for Leicester West, said: "I was delighted to recently meet Haresh and hear about the really interesting work of Triangle Media Group. I fully support this project and am delighted that the global award ceremony is being held here in Leicester'.