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The first International Film Festival of India to be held in Goa got off to a flying start today, when Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shri Jaipal Reddy inaugurated the festival amid a galaxy of film personalities. In his inaugural address, Shri Reddy said there was a crying need for checking the menace of piracy, which had become a deadly menace and said the government was planning to enact an optical disc law. Members of the key advisory group and all the stakeholders will be involved in framing the key provisions of the law, said the Minister.
Shri Reddy and other dignitaries including the chief guest the Governor of Goa Shri S.C. Jamir, Chief Minister of Goa Shri Manohar Parrikar, thespian actor Shri Dilip Kumar, cinestar Shri Aamir Khan and Union Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Shri Navin Chawla joined in the traditional lighting of the lamp to launch the 35th International Film Festival (IFFI) 2004. Noting that cinema was a major source not only of entertainment but also of revenue generation and employment, Shri Reddy said that the government was aware of the need to strengthen this sector. Cinema was a bloodless social reformer, said Shri Reddy and added that it has modernized the mindset of the modern Indian by playing a catalytic and revolutionary role.
Speaking on the occasion Governor of Goa Shri S.C. Jamir said that modern films were attracting viewership due to portrayal of violence and sex and said that this should be avoided. He said cinema should be viewed as a piece of art. Earlier, the Chief Minister of Goa Shri Manohar Parrikar thanked the Central Government for its continued support in making Goa the venue of the IFFI and said that a world class infrastructure had been set up in record time. He assured the audience that in the next two or three years Goa would have one of the best festival venues with all facilities for a world class film festival.
Thespian actor Dilip Kumar, speaking with grace and dignity, said that it was fitting that Goa had snatched the prize and it was a natural choice as a permanent venue for the International Film Festival of India. This choice, he said had received national attention and international approval. Shri Dilip Kumar paid his tribute to the countless writers, technicians, artistes and performers who had contributed to the growth of the Indian film industry.
The inaugural ceremony saw a performance by A.R. Rehman and his troupe, which included a dance by Isha Shravani, the leading lady of Subhash Ghai’s new film Kisna. The function concluded with the screening of the inaugural film – Mira Nair’s Vanity Fair. The welcome address was given by the Director, Directorate of Film Festivals, Smt. Neelam Kapoor and the vote of thanks was given by President of the Film Federation of India, Shri Santosh Kumar Jain.
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