IFFI: No ifs or buts

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Wednesday appealed to filmmakers to use the medium of cinema to fight feudal institutions and fascism in the country as he inaugurated the prestigious 42nd International Film Festival of India (IFFI). Khan's fervent plea for honest efforts in filmmaking came as curtains went up on the 10-day long film festival.

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Opening the festival, being held for the first time in Margaon city instead of the usual venue of Panaji, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni called IFFI as the 'people's International Film Festival.' 'Don't be afraid to fight feudal institutions and fascism. Don't be afraid to destroy systems that kills our heart and soul. Don't be afraid of forces that will finally kill our world,' said the Bollywood heartthrob, who apologised for wearing a suit and 'not a Bermuda' to match with the profile of the tourist destination. While praising India's status as the world's largest film industry, Soni said Indian cinema was yet to get the recognition it deserved. The opening ceremony, which was scheduled for 5 PM, was delayed by half-an-hour after Khan's flight was delayed. 'We didn't want to start the ceremony without Shah Rukh Khan,' Soni joked as the inaugural function finally got under way with the speech of Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat. Meanwhile, veteran actor Jackie Shroff said the Indian film industry should be giving preference to the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) over other prestigious fests across the globe, to make it a better affair. 'People (in the film industry) keep on talking about Cannes festival. I would advice them to come to Panaji. Lets make IFFI better than that,' Shroff said talking to reporters after inaugurating the 'Raj Kapoor' lounge for Directors at IFFI, which kicked off on Wednesday. He also appealed vactioners and Bollywood celebs who come down to Goa for holidaying to visit IFFI. 'People come here (Goa) for a holiday. They should also come to Goa during IFFI,' Shroff said. The actor said he would be requesting people from Marathi, Tamil and Bengali film industry also to come to Goa for the ten-day festival, which ends on 3 December. Celebrated French filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award at the opening ceremony. The festival kicked off with the screening of 'The Consul Of Bordeaux' a Portuguese film by Fransisco Manso and Joao Correa.