Bengaluru: A ‘magical evening’ under the stars in one of most dynamic cities of India - Bengaluru, celebrating the world of cinema, is what Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan remarked during the inauguration of the tenth edition of Bengaluru International Film Festival, which kick-started on the grand stairs of Vidhana Soudha on Thursday.
While Chief Minister Siddaramaiah could not attend the event due to the ongoing legislative session, Legislative Council Speaker D.H. Shankaramurthy, Ministers Roshan Baig and H.M. Revanna, along with others dignitaries and guests.
They included Academy Award winning French filmmaker Marc Bachet, award winning Iranian female actress and filmmaker Fatemeh Motamed Arya, popular Bollywood filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.
“Cinema is my blood, it is my passion, and food for the soul. I am happy to be part of renowned film festival where so many kinds of movies across the globe is being celebrated, where people come together with so much of love, irrespective of religion and language. Bengaluru will always be very special to our family and to the Kapoor legacy,” Kareena said, adding that her grandfather Raj Kapoor's spirit would bless and guide the filmmakers to keep up the good work. “It is not because I am here but for his love for Karnataka, especially Mysuru,” she added.
The actress admitted that she does not know Kannada, but hopes one day to act in a Kannada movie. Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy Chairman Dr S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu said the Chief Minister will lay the foundation stone for the mega film city in Mysuru on March 6, which will be built in a grand scale in 150 acres of land on a prime location in the city.
He further stressed the state government's support to film industry including the latest move to announce incentive of up to Rs 5 crore for the purpose of film tourism and a total sum of Rs 40 lakh for filmmakers who make movies based on novel, and setting aside Rs 5 lakh to film writers. In his address Minister Baig revealed that it was Raj Kapoor's popular song from the film Anadi “Kiska dard mil sake toh le udhaar…” inspired him to take public work.
Iranian actress Fatemeh Motamed Arya thanked cinema which helps sustain peace and humanity wherever it exists across the globe. Impressed with the collective effort of putting forth such wonderful festival, Bollywood film director Rakeysh said he cannot wait to be part of its 11the edition and won hearts of Kannadigas saying that his wife is from Bengaluru and hence he is technically the son-in-law of the city.
For movie buffs as the 10th BIFFES offers more than 200 movies from across the globe, including 50 Academy Award winning movies at display this year. Go catch them in action from Friday in Bengaluru till March 1.
