The International Film Festival of India serves to showcase some of
the best cinema from India and around the world and in its wake, a host of film
personalities. Yet, the heroes of the very state that showcases a galaxy of
stars from around the world have remained in the shadows. Jumping at an
opportunity to pay tribute to Goa’s unsung heroes, Sushant Tari, Art Director
for IFFI, took the initiative of displaying a panel dedicated to a ‘Galaxy of
Goan Stars’ at the Inox Courtyard. “I am a Goan and it pained me to see that
people do not know how many Goans have contributed to the Indian film industry.
These people have excelled in their respective fields and yet hardly anyone
speaks about them. So setting up this panel alongside the one with Indian film
personalities was a very conscious thought,”
explains Tari.
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The focus of
Tari’s selection has been film personalities of the yesteryears. “These people
worked in the pre-liberation era when moving from Goa to Bombay was not an easy
task. But they made a name for themselves,” avers Tari.
While
cinematographers form a bulk of the 24 personalities chosen to be framed on the
panel with a small description, a few actors, producers, musicians, editors and
art directors have been hand-picked as a representative few. Popular names like
Anthony Gonsalves (music arranger) and Waman Bhonsle (editor) feature on the
panel. “I was given just seven to eight days to compile the entire galaxy and
was unable to do much research. But I hope this will be much larger and better
next year,” explains Tari who contributed as much with his effort with support
from the government. “I have kept the descriptions short. My idea was to create
the interest so that people would be keen to know more,” explains Tari who is
elated at the response he is receiving.
In a further
tribute to these heroes, the respective families of these personalities will be
felicitated at a special forthcoming ceremony at IFFI.
