The 39th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2008 began in Panaji on Saturday. The festival has witnessed unprecedented participation with almost 6000 delegates having registered for the 10-day fest.This year, tickets have been distributed to the common people thus ensuring the burgeoning numbers.
The 11-day festival showing nearly 200 Indian and foreign films from 12 countries was inaugurated by veteran actor Rekha.
Goa Governor S. S. Siddhu, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Anand Sharma attended the opening ceremony, compered by actor Amrita Rao.
Mr. Sharma highlighted the role of Indian cinema in connecting with the masses. “Cinema connects civilizations, continents and cultures,” he said, hailing it for stemming divisive tendencies in the country.
Ms. Rekha called it “the best film festival in the world”, even referring to Goa as “a home away from home and a future home” for her.
The festival opened with the screening of The Warlords set in the 1860s, during the Taiping Rebellion. The film was introduced by its director, Peter Chan.
The film from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Song of the Sparrows, directed by acclaimed Majid Majidi will be the closing film. Iran is among the countries in focus, the other two being Russia and Switzerland.
‘Stoneman’, a much awaited Hindi flick based on the serial killer who hit Mumbai in the 80s, will not be screened at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2008.
IFFI officials are now left with six films including three Hindi and one each from Marathi, Konkani and a multilingual flick for the Indian Premier section.
Abhay Deol starrer ‘Oye Lucky Lucky Oye’ (OLLO) will be one of the Hindi films to be premiered in Indian Premier section along with ‘Thanks Maa’ and ‘Dhuaan-From the fire within’.
‘OLLO’, a Ronnie Screwalla production, based on a thief from a ghetto of West Delhi, is a story about a gawky 15-year-old lower middle class kid who graduates to become one of the most wanted thieves in India. Directed by Dibankar Banerjee, the film also stars Paresh Rawal and Neetu Chandra.
‘Thanks Maa’, produced by Quantum Film Ltd, is a heart-rending story of a 12-year-old boy. ‘Dhuaaan’, a film by Mrinalini A Dayal, is based on the life of a couple in Mumbai. The film has Raj Babbar, Amitabh Dayal and Lakshmi Gopalswami as the lead actors.
‘Tandala’, a Marathi flick produced by Madhuri Ashirgade and directed by Sanjay Surkar, will also have its debut show at the festival.
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