LATA MANGESHKAR INAUGURATES FILM FESTIVAL
CALLS FOR KEEPING INDIAN CULTURE
AS MAJOR CONTENT OF FILMS
The 33rd
International Film Festival of India got off to a glittering start
at an impressive inaugural function at Siri Fort Auditorium here
today. Melody Queen, Lata Mangeshkar who was the Chief Guest lit
the ceremonial lamp amidst thundrous applause in jam-packed auditorium.
Cinestars Aishwarya Rai and Rani Mukherjee acted as ‘Aarti Girls’
lending glitter to the ceremony. The Minister of Information and
Broadcasting, Smt. Sushma Swaraj presided. The Minister of State
for Information and Broadcasting, Shri Ramesh Bais and Delhi Minister
of Transport, Tourism and Power Shri Ajay Maken were also present.
In her inaugural
address Lata Mangeshkar called upon the present day filmmakers
not to forget the rich Indian culture and civilization and be
overtaken by the technological advancement. She said, they must
keep in mind the tireless efforts of the great pioneers of Indian
Cinema like Dada Saheb Phalke and countless artists who made enormous
sacrifices and worked in most trying circumstances to achieve
great heights for the Indian film industry. She said artists from
all parts of India contributed to the development of Indian film
industry.
Referring to
the great contribution of music to the Indian films, Lata Mangeshkar
said that music is in every aspect of Indian lives and it has
not only enriched the films but also given a unique identity and
recognition to Indian films. She praised the efforts of the Information
and Broadcasting Minister, Smt. Sushma Swaraj for popularizing
Indian films in other countries, and hoped that the industry would
achieve new heights in coming years.
The Information
and Broadcasting, Smt. Sushma Swaraj said that it is through the
films that one can know and understand different countries, cultures
and ways of life in other parts of the world. The film festivals
like the IFFI are great opportunities in this regard and really
bring about the feeling of ‘Vasudeva Katumbhkam’ (the world is
one family). Referring to the terrorist attack on Akshardham Temple
last week when some people expressed apprehension whether the
Festival would at all be held, Smt. Swaraj said "we would
defeat all the designs of the terrorists. It is time to take a
vow that none of the tactics of terrorists would be able to stop
us and we would go on to achieve our goals," she said.
The Chairman
of the Jury of Asian Competition Section Shri Budhadeb Dasgupta
and other members were introduced to the audience. The cast of
the opening film from Brazil, "Brainstorm" was also
introduced to the audience followed by the screening of the film.
Brainstorm had won several international awards, including the
Best First Film Award at Trierte and Cartagene Film Festivals
and Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor Awards at Brazilia Festival.
The Director,
Film Festivals, Smt. Deepak Sandhu gave the details of the various
sections of the Festival and said that one of the major attractions
of the Festival this year is the Film Market organized by NFDC
at a big scale.
A special feature
of the IFFI-2002 is the special tribute to the renowned actor
Marcello Mastroianni of Italy. The Competition Section of Asian
Cinema will feature fifteen films from twelve contries including
two from India, ‘Mitr My Friend’ and ‘Chandni Bar’. There will
be three prizes, Golden Peacock and Rs. 5 lakh for the best film,
Silver Peacock and Rs. 2.5 lakh for the most promising Asian Director,
and a Silver Peacock and Rs. 2.5 lakh as Special Jury prize.
The main Cinema
of the World Section will have 65 films from 40 countries. Seven
films on ‘Devdas’ will include one made in 1935 and the print
has been obtained from Bangladesh. A total of 173 feature and
21 non-feature films from over 40 countries are being screened
during the Festival.
One of the major
attractions for the film-makers, distributers and others connected
with the film industry is the ‘Film Bazaar’ set up by NFDC at
a large scale this year. To be inaugurated by the Health and Family
Welfare Minister, Sh. Shatrughan Sinha tomorrow has 16 stalls
and provision for market screenings. An exhibition of the history
of cinema is also put up by the Directorate of Advertising and
Visual Publicity (DAVP) in the foyer of the Auditorium.
