Rajini, Big B & Shankar Mahadevan steal the show as IFFI50 opens
PALASH VOLVOIKAR | 20 November 2019 20:45 IST
India’s ace singer Shankar Mahadevan stole the show at the inaugural of Golden Jubilee of International Film Festival of India in Goa today evening amidst the whole Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium cheering at the two great superstars of Indian Films: Rajinikanth & Big B Amitabh Bachchan.
But, unfortunately, the three-hour long ceremony did not have anything on Indian films, especially when Government of India is celebrating 50 years of Asia’s biggest film festival.
The Directorate of Film Festivals however paid special tributes to former defense minister and former Goa chief minister late Manohar Parrikar, who was instrumental in getting IFFI to Goa and making the tourist state its permanent venue in 2004.
Incidentally, Goa is also celebrating 15 years of IFFI this year.
There were two major announcements however to make the Indian and international film industry happy.
After inaugurating the nine-day film festival, India’s Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar announced that his government will provide a single window system to shoot anywhere in India, that too at discounted rates.
Russia is a country focus at IFFI50 this year. On this occasion, leader of the Russian team Maria Lemesheva announced that her government has started offering 40 per cent subsidy to any film being shot in Russia.
Also highlight of the inaugural ceremony were honoring Superstar Rajinikanth as Icon of Golden Jubilee and felicitating Big B Amitabh Bachchan.
“Amithab-ji has been my inspiration”, said Rajini while thanking for the great honour.
And Bachchan said: we are close friends, keep talking to each other & give advises to each other not to do certain things. It's different that both of us don't follow those advises, he said amidst big laughter from among the cheerful audience.
French cinema's defining faces actress Isabelle Huppert was also conferred the Lifetime Achievement award at the opening ceremony. She has appeared in more than 120 films and is the most nominated actress for the César Award with 16 nominations.
Goa CM Dr Pramod Sawant also welcomed the delegates with Entertainment Society of Goa’s vice chairperson Subhash Phaldesai.
Bollywood icon Karan Johar compered the whole show with his special Karan-flavour.
Unlike musical and dance performances by several groups, this year was the solo by India’s ace singer Shankar Mahadevan along with jazz drums by Jio Banks. It was simply superb.
