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AND THE AWARDS GO TO ...
SP BALASUBRAHMANYAM (Celebrated singer and music director)
* IFFI Centenary Award for his contribution to the Indian music industry
* He is also the recipient of Padmashri, Padmabushan awards
* Holds Guinness World Record for recording over 40,000 songs
* Received a standing ovation for his version of Vande Mataram
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IM KWON TAEK (South Korean film director)
* Awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award
* He has made over 100 Korean films
"Of the many films I made, some were rather immature but later I realized the need to tell the stories of life in Korea. I take this award as a means of encouragement to make more of these sorts of films”
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OVER NEXT 9 DAYS
* Over 300 films from 90 countries will be screened
* Masterclasses, workshops, conversation series on cards
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LIGHTS & CAMERA
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The 47th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) got off to a glittery start at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Taleigao with a call to come up with value-based films with focus on issues faced by the people.
Renowned Bollywood director Ramesh Sippy, who was the chief guest, inaugurated the film fest which saw the celebration of Indian women in cinema even as Union Minster Naidu stressed on the need to project values in films.
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu said, “Cinema is the religion without borders. In India, there is one film being made every five hours and cinema speaks the universal language through visuals and can project an issue affecting a particular society.”
He questioned the need for violence, vulgarity and obscenity in films. He appealed to the film makers to instead focus on raising issues facing societies and portraying films that were value based.
The inaugural that was hosted by actresses Suhasini Maniratnam and Surveen Chawla also saw a Ganesh Acharya choreographed description of women in Indian cinema from the 50s. From the era that was dominated by men to the slow and gradual struggle to be heard, Acharya highlighted roles of actresses including Nutan, Madhubala, Parveen Babi, Rekha, Aishwariya Rai Bachan and Priyanka Chopra.
Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar recalled the year 2004 as being a milestone when Goa was first given the task of organising IFFI. He said since being declared the permanent venue in 2014, Goa through IFFI had successfully become a platform for international and Indian films. He added that, this year new additions had been made in the form of films that were disabled-friendly and the introduction of new technologies in film projection.
Also present for the event were Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Goa Governor Mridula Sinha, Union Minister for AYUSH Shripad Naik, Actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Festival Director Senthil Rajan and ESG officials including Rajendra Talak and Ameya Abhyankar.
