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Amitabh Bachchan cold-shouldered by IFFI yet again
07th Nov 2006 09.13 IST
By Agencies

Mega superstar Amitabh Bachchan has been cold-shouldered yet again by the organisers of the International Film Festival of India which begins in Goa from November 23.

After inviting Bachchan to inaugurate the festival last year, the organisers had backed out at the last minute.

However, they were tightlipped on Monday when reporters asked them about Bachchan's status at the festival this year.

"Next question," was all J P Singh, Chief Secretary, Goa, said after repeated queries from the media persons in New Delhi.

Veteran star Shashi Kapoor will inaugurate the festival this year.

After its two previous botched efforts at organising the event, Goa this year promises an "extravaganza" at the 37th International Film Festival of India.

"We have learnt from our shortcomings, and this year we promise a extravaganza that will be the talk of the country," JP Singh, Chief Secretary, Goa, told reporters in New Delhi.

Singh said infrastructure and logistics, which came in for heavy criticism in the last two years, have been given priority this year.

Goa, which is now the permanent venue for IFFI, has been organising the festival since 2004.

Unlike previous years when Bollywood was the focus in the Indian Panorama section, the festival will have a distinct regional flavour this year, with screening of many feature and non-feature films in various languages.

These include Rituparno Ghosh 's 'Dosar' in Bengali, Girish Kasarvalli's 'Nayi Neralu' in Kannada, and 'Sonam' in Arunachali dialect -- Monpa by young filmmaker Ahsan Muzid.

However, Bollywood would be roped in to provide the 'glamour quotient' with veteran actor Shashi Kapoor inaugurating the festival. Other stars invited at the festival include Vidya Balan , who will be the 'aarti girl' at the inauguration, Anil Kapoor and Bengali superstar Prosenajit.

A total of 107 films from around 40 countries will be screened during the 11-day festival, whose theme this year is "Vasudeva Kutumbhakam" or the "The Whole World is One Family."

This year the awards will comprise the Golden Peacock (Rs 10 lakh) award for best film, and Silver Peacock (Rs five lakh) for the 'Most Promising Director.' A Special Jury award will be presented to a director for 'Individual Artistic Contribution'.

The jury will be chaired by Rolf De Heer, an award-winning director from Australia, and will comprise filmmakers Vincent Maraval and Olivier Assays from France and Assamese filmmaker Jahnu Barua.

While the 'Country Focus' will be Argentina, retrospective of India legend Prithviraj Kapoor and noted Hollywood actor Al Pacino will be presented. Pacino's movies include 'Scent of a Woman' and 'The Godfather-Part II.'

Richard Attenborough's 'Gandhi' will also be screened to mark the centenary of Satyagraha movement by Mahatma Gandhi.

Besides the films, the festival will comprise workshops by international experts, special screenings for children, concerts by renowned musicians like Shankar Ehsan Loy and Boney M.

"This year we have introduced mobile screens that will travel to remote parts of Goa, showcasing the festival for those who cannot make it to the main venues," said Nandini Palival, CEO, Entertainment Society of Goa, which is the chief organiser of the festival.

A 'Film Bazaar' where filmmakers can interact and market their products is also being organised in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry.

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