Panjim (Goa), November 28
If there are many teething problems, bear them with a smile because this is the first time that the denture called the International Film Festival of India has been affixed on the smiling face of Goa.
That is the spirit prevailing here among all and sundry as Panjim gets ready for the inauguration of the festival. Most buildings right from the airport have been tastefully decorated to welcome the delegates. Stars have started arriving and the logistic problems are telling on organisers’ nerves. But they are all taking it sportingly. The administration is pulling all stops to make the inaugural a success.
They know how much rides on the successful completion of the 10-day extravaganza because although the Chief Minister has said that Goa is now the permanent venue fully and finally, the fact remains that the MoU with the Centre in this regard is only for one year and the detractors, of whom there are many, will be keeping a hawk’s eye on the proceedings in case there are any goofups.
Till a month ago, there were doubts about the venue as well as the dates of the festival. To that extent, it is a miracle that everything has been stitched up on time.
There is a lot of excitement among the locals and they are hoping that the hosting of the festival will add to the charm of Goa as a tourism magnet.
Veteran actor Dilip Kumar, who arrived here today along with Saira Banu, from Mumbai by air, is to inaugurate the festival, which will continue up to December 9, at 5.30 p.m. tomorrow. The ceremony is to take place at the Kala Academy complex situated on the banks of the Mandovi river.
This will be followed by a 60-member orchestra led by music maestro A.R. Rahman, where he will present his latest compositions from “Kisna”, a film by Subhash Ghai. Famous danseuse Isha Sharvani will also be performing on this occasion.
While this will be for the select 950 celebrities who can be accommodated in the Dinanath Mangeshkar Hall of the Kala Academy, a cultural parade open for the general public will take place earlier at 2.30 pm from Ribandar Circle to Bal Bhavan featuring huge floats showcasing Goan culture, music and nature with costumed performers, dancers and folk groups. This would be followed by laser shows and fireworks.
In fact, a rich feast of dance, drama and music is an integral part of the Goa festival. There will be everything from Konkani plays, Goan folk dances, fusion jazz concerts, Salsa dancing, tattoo making, face painting, bangle making, balloon sculpting and hair braiding.
In cinema proper, there will be seven major sections. These are Asian competition, cinema of the world, Indian and foreign retrospectives, tribute and homage, Indian panorama and mainstream India cinema. In all there will be 200 films and 400 screenings.
Sandeep Sawant’s “Shwaas”, national award winning Marathi film and India’s official entry to the Oscars this year, and Anjan Dutt’s “Bow Barracks Forever” are the two Indian entries among the 15 Asian films vying for honours. The five-member jury is headed by Mani Ratnam.
A special retrospective of five Ashok Amritraj films is a highlight. The first film on the opening day will be Mira Nair’s “Vanity Fair”. She will be present here to introduce the film.
On the closing day, Hollywood blockbuster “Alexander” is slated to be screened and attempts are being made to bring its lead stars Val Kilmer and Rosaria Dawson to Goa.
The festival will mark the debut of beach screening in the country. Blockbusters like “Mission Impossible” and “Gladiator” will be screened at Miramar Beach from November 30 on a huge 70 ft by 30 ft screen. Purists are appalled but cinelovers are looking forward to the experience.
Amitabh Bachchan is slated to be here on December 1, World AIDS Day, when he will host the screening of “Yesterday”, an acclaimed South African film on the subject.
A special film bazaar will be held simultaneously at the venue to invite buyers from around the world.
To keep the locals in good humour, films by several Goan producers-directors are to be screened. Even amateurs will be able to screen their short films.
The festival will pay tribute to the production house Yash Raj Films by screening films like “Dhoom”, “Hum Tum”, “Darr” and “Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge”. The festival will pay a special honour to Satyajit Ray on the golden jubilee year of “Pather Panchali”.
