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Goa fails to lift film festival out of shadow
The moviemakers feel that the annual international event is still decades away from the Cannes extravaganza.
The beach state of Goa has added to the glitz and glamour of India's film festival but moviemakers agree that the annual international event is still decades away from the Cannes extravaganza.
The 11-day offering began on November 29 in India's number one tourist destination, which boasts of long, palm-fringed sandy beaches.
Organisers dared to bill it as a spicy sub-continental riposte to the Cannes film festival. However, after a week of screenings, few voices could be heard claiming the Goa show was coming anywhere close to its French contemporary.
"Goa is beautiful as it has the area and space to stage the festival and people in love with films," said US based Indian film director Mira Nair, whose latest venture, Vanity Fair opened the show.
"But it's not fair to compare it with Cannes or with festivals of Berlin or Venice which have taken decades to reach where they are. We can also get there, but only with time."
The Indian showcase was shifted this year to a permanent venue in Goa with film buffs saying the choice of the holiday state would enhance the appeal as India seeks to compete head-on with a plethora of other international movie events.
The Goa government spent more than 1.20 billion rupees (26 million dollars) in building infrastructure.
The festival boasts seven main sections, including Asian competition, Indian mainstream and retrospective, films from across the world as well as tributes and homages.
"I have heard people compare the festival to Cannes and I do not think they should be so liberal with their tongues," remarked producer-director Vidhu Vinod Chopra, whose hit movie, Munnabhai MBBS, was one of the Bollywood blockbusters screened here.
Chopra said Goa had to grow further and offer the variety seen in Cannes, not to mention elsewhere.
"Our international film festival needs to be developed, the world needs a reason to come to us. International stars and crowd-pulling movies need to be part of the event," he told AFP.
Experts believe Cannes, with its setting, dazzle and experience of over six decades would remain the guiding light for competitors.
Vocal criticisms, on inadequate arrangements, were also made against the Goa state authorities.
"The government spent large amount of money to put together the festival in a short time, but I think the aim and goal of the festival have not been fully thought through," said top Bollywood casting agent Uma DaCunha.
Critics also noted the absence of crowd-pulling stars such as Aishwarya Rai who was on the Cannes jury in 2003 and Shahrukh Khan.
"Probably they would come for the closing, but as of now, except (Amitabh) Bachchan, no other crowd-puller has come to our home event," the critic said.
Goa's capital city of Panaji will see more than 200 films from Asia, North America and Europe screened by December 9. Not everyone was critical.
"I think the festival will become bigger than Cannes as Goa is a better venue," said Hollywood-based Indian producer Ashok Amritraj.
And big movies screened in the open air on Goa's main Miramar beach attracted thousands.
A live concert by popular musician AR Rahman kicked off the festival, which was attended by actor Aamir Khan, producer-director Subhash Ghai, actress Manisha Koirala, veteran actress Shabana Azmi and her lyricist husband Javed Akhta at the 1,000-seater Kala Academy theatre.
US blockbuster The Incredibles and Oliver Stone's controversial epic Alexander, the closing film, have proved top attractions, said the organisers.
Other prominent offerings were Sofia Coppola's Lost In Translation from the United States, Yesterday from South Africa, Terkel in Trouble from Denmark and Manners of Dying from Canada.
