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For a nation that lives, eats and drinks either
cricket or cinema, the 'humiliation' of India's biggest star-actor
is not easy to digest. This year, India's most prestigious film extravaganza,
International Film Festival of India 2006 (at Goa), was once again
in news. And for wrong reasons. Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan
was ignored yet again by the festival organisers who had not invited
him to attend either the inaugural or closing ceremonies, sending
his frenzied fans into a rage. And the villain this time too was the
'Govt'.
"As far as the invitations go, it is the central
government which decides who has to be invited or not, General Manager
of Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG)," Nikhil Desai had been
quoted as saying. "There are thousands of accomplished actors,
why single out a person," he said. While Shashi Kapoor inaugurated
the festival on Nov 23, the closing ceremony honours was done by
director Aparna Sen.
After inviting Bachchan to inaugurate the festival
last year, the organisers had backed out at the last minute. However,
they were tightlipped when asked about Bachchan's status at the
festival this year.
Though the organisers tried their best to make the
fastival a grand success, the event has acquired a rather negative
image what with commitment to honouring a mega-actor remaining hostage
to the powers that be.
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