The Hindu : National : Carnival on the roads in Goa, as international film festival begins

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Friday, Nov 25, 2005

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National

Carnival on the roads in Goa, as international film festival begins

Sudhish Kamath

Goa is the name and address of the festival, says Jaipal Reddy

COLOURFUL START: Veteran actor Dev Anand inaugurates the 36th International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Thursday. Also seen are film actor Chiranjeevi (extreme left), Goa Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane, Union Minister Jaipal Reddy and actresses Tara and Bipasha Basu. — Photo: Rajtilak Naik

PANAJI: Carnival on the roads. Planes painting graffiti in the skies. Festivity and excitement in the air. Smoke on the water. And stars from different corners of the earth.

The International Film Festival of India opened to a full house here on Thursday. As the chief guest, actor and filmmaker Dev Anand said: "The lamp has been lit to add light to your already lit hearts."

Guest of honour Chiranjeevi paid tribute to cinema, saying, "Films are a part of our culture. Watching films are a part of our tradition. They have now become a habit, the best and cheapest form of entertainment for the common man."

Union Minister Jaipal Reddy justified the need for a permanent venue. "All international film festivals are known by the place they are held in. So we thought that the IFFI should acquire a name and address for itself. Goa is that name and address," he said. Not just a tourist but also a celluloid destination, he added.

As Dev Anand remarked, "There is no reason why Goa cannot be the best venue for any film fest in the world."

Chief Minister of Goa Pratapsinh Rane said he was confident that the State would become a landmark for cinema. "We are determined to promote the land as a hub of entertainment," he said.

The inaugural ceremony featured song, dance, mime, acrobatics and performances by Hema Sardesai, Himesh Reshamiyya, Paintal, Amisha Patel, Pakistani actress Meera, Urmila Matondkar, South Indian sensation Shreya, Blaaze and newcomers Neetu, Daisy and Nargis, on the journey of Indian cinema over the years. The festival then got off to a start with the screening of the Brazilian film `Olga' at INOX and the premiere of `The Rising' (in English) on the beach.

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