Birju Maharaj to showcase 100 years of cinema at IFFI
TNN, MUMBAI | 19 November 2013 21:11 IST
Birju Maharaj painting by Swarooproy
A cultural extravaganza with special choreography by dance maestro Birju Maharaj to showcase 100 years of cinema and glimpses from the local Konkani-Portuguese artistic traditions will kickstart the the 44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on Wednesday in Goa.
Though Maharaj's tribute to Indian cinema through dance is the highlight of the event, performances from Bharat Natyam exponent Shobana and sitar aficionado Ustad Nishat Khan are also part of the evening that will open the festival.
The showcasing of local Goan culture through performances on the evening is happening for the first time in the festival, said sources.
The decision to focus on local Goan flavour in the larger Indian cultural context was taken as the event is now a decade old in the state.
Earlier cultural events during the inaugural ceremony encapsulated the composite Indian culture through a significant dose of Bollywood.
The cultural event would be preceded by speeches from Hollywood veteran Susan Sarandon and actor Kamal Haasan, who are both chief guests at the event.
Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Manish Tewari, Goa CM Manohar Parrikar and I&B secretary Bimal Julka would also address the gathering before the opening film 'Don Juans' is screened.
The film's director, Czech filmmaker Jiri Menzel, would also be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, said festival director Shankar Mohan.
Centenary Award for the Film Personality of the Year, instituted for the first time in the festival, will go to veteran Indian actress Waheeda Rehman.
Mohan said there were many firsts in the 44th edition of the festival which include screening of 15 Oscar-nominee films among the 326 films from 76 countries being screened at the festival.
"The participation of films on digital platform this year is as high as 80% in comparison to 50% last year," he said.
The festival is also screening cinema from Afghanistan, Jammu and Kashmir and the North East.
The Country Focus this year is on Japan and the segment will showcase a special package of the best that Japan has to offer.
