More cinema, less festivity in IFFI
Rupesh
Samant (PTI)
3 September 2007
After facing criticism
by filmmakers for turning the International Film Festival of India into a carnival
style activity, Goa organisers have begun learning lessons.
The reputed
festival, which was shifted to Goa in 2004 during the tenure of BJP chief minister
Manohar Parrikar, had come in for criticism for having become a celebration, losing
focus on cinema.
Such a blitzkrieg and involvement of locals in the festival
was defended by the organisers as state government had pumped in crores of rupees
to get infrastructure for the festival in place.
The then chief minister
Parrikar, who himself worked overtime, ensured that the four-screen multiplex,
was in place within record 180 days, little ahead of the festival.
Congress,
which was then in opposition, had left no stone unturned to criticise Parrikar
for 'spending on such unwanted activity.' The leader of opposition Pratapsingh
Rane, who had criticised Parrikar for expenditure, however, whole heartedly participated
in the festival when he became the chief minister.
True to Goa's image,
the festival attracted huge crowd in and around venues that created problems for
many filmmakers. South Indian film makers airing grievance about ill-treatment"
marked few of the press conferences.
Your
Comments Please
