The film festival was inaugurated last evening by Prakash Javdekar, Union Minister for I&B and Sudeep the superstar from Kannada cinema. Café was there
Ajit John
It was a glitzy enough for the times. Filmy, colourful and typically loud, it had it all. Ladies and Gentleman the 51st edition of IFFI has commenced. As the festival celebrating cinema commenced, the country also commenced its battle with the virus with the largest vaccination campaign in the world. Both, a celebration of the country’s spirit and vivid imagination.The Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar speaking on the occasion said the year 2020 had commenced on a very strange note with the virus sweeping across the country and the rest of the world. But this festival and the vaccination campaign showed everyone on that this country could not be put down and this festival would be a great one. He went on to say with the vaccine program having commenced would make the next festival scheduled for November a fantastic affair. Speaking of that festival, he hoped there would be greater participation from the private sector. He said “Every year, IFFI is organised by the central government and Goa government. Why? There should be participation from the film industry and other industries as well. Just because it's the government's responsibility to ensure thriving atmosphere and promotion of arts and culture, doesn't mean the government should do everything. I hope there will be private players participating in the next edition in November.”'He said the hybrid edition, which will also have physical screenings, is a testimony to the festival's ability to adapt to changing times. Films will be screened across seven theatres, but the online access will be there for all the delegates. He cited the example of newspaper circulation which was affected but whose digital engagement had grown massively. The minister announced that the newly created Indian Personality of the Year Award will be conferred to veteran actor- filmmaker Biswajit Chatterjee. It aims to honour film personalities for their exemplary contribution to cinema.Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, said the organisers were strictly following the state guidelines to ensure safety of the guests. He said “We assure you that your health, hygiene and well being have been of utmost importance. We are following all the health protocols for the film festival.'The virus ensured that none of the stars of the Indian film industry were present at the festival. However several send video messages to commemorate the occasion. Anupam Kher congratulated the organizers of the festival and wished them all the best. Similar sentiments were extended by Aparshakti Khurana, Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit and RanveerSingh. Siddharth Chaturvedi said it was a wonderful platform for actors to showcase their work. Mohanlal said the medium of cinema was reinventing itself and the internet itself was changing and helping reframe the experience itself. He believed online cinema festivals would be the norm. Sudeep the superstar from the Kannada film industry said sports and cinema was capable of touching everyone. He said “I hope cinema will be the new Corona, the new pandemic which will touch everyone. Cinema takes you all over the world and showcases new cultures which make you humble when you see what is out there in the world. Let the show go on”. The evening was then livened up by Sonia Shirsat accompanied by a large group of boys and girls who swayed as she sang songs from Bobby. This was followed by cultural show displaying the rich culture of Goa and other states of India. The festival was inaugurated with the screening of “Another Round”, Denmark’s entry to the Oscars. A total of 224 films will be screened under different sections at the 51st edition, 15 of which will compete for the Golden Peacock award.The festival will also pay homage to actors Irrfan Khan, Sushant Singh Rajput, Rishi Kapoor and Hollywood star Chadwick Boseman among 28 other artistes from the world cinema by showcasing their films.It should make for entertaining viewing.
