Karan Johar talks shop with Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Akshay Kumar; veteran Israeli filmmaker awarded Lifetime Achievement
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 21, 2018)

The opening ceremony of the 49th International Film Festival of India kicked off in Goa on 5 pm, Tuesday, with a brass band welcoming guests on the red carpet. Among the guests were filmmakers Subhash Ghai, Ramesh Sippy (with actress-wife Kiran Juneja), Madhur Bhandarkar, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Rakesh Omprakash Mehra and Rahul Rawail, actors Randhir Kapoor, Poonam Dhillon, Hrishitaa Bhatt and Nora Fatehi. Akshay Kumar and Karan Johar, who flew in together from Mumbai on a charter plane, reached the venue at 5.20 pm.

After a performance by a dance troupe, representing different genres of Hindi films, KJo moderated a conversation between Akshay and Minister of State Youth Affairs & Sports and MoS Information & Broadcasting, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. When Akshay jokingly refused to participate, citing the absence of coffee, KJo quipped that he was the hamper and the actor could take him home.

The conversation focused on Akshay’s last release, the Reema Kagti-directed sports drama Gold, which is up for a screening at the festival, and his repertoire that is raking up socially-relevant titles lately, while Rathore asserted that he has learnt a lot while managing two ministries. Soon, it was quiz time, during which the host asked Rathore the number of Khiladi films that have featured Akshay (eight), while the actor was asked to quote the number of medals the internationally acclaimed shooter-turned-politician has won (25).

When asked who he thought could play him in his biopic, barring Akshay, Rathore stated that he wasn’t sure of the actor, but he would like Karan to direct the film. Akshay picked Ranveer Singh to play him in his biopic.

On the red carpet, KJo said that it is imperative to empower film writers, while Akshay added, “There are so many documentary films being made and people watch them but don’t get inspired. So, it is very important to have films with substance and meaning in them.”

Amit Sadh, who was also assigned hosting duties at the show, caught up with singer Arijit Singh, who hummed the song, “Phir Le Aaya Dil” from Barfi, among the audience, while playback singer Shilpa Rao sang “Ik Kudi” from Udta Punjab and Farida Khanum’s “Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo”. Sonu Sood came on stage with the final performance — a tribute to Bollywood’s action heroes. Julien Landais, director of the festival’s opening film, The Aspern Papers, was in attendance with cast members Nicolas Hau, Barbara Meier and Lois Robbins, while leading man Jonathan Rhys Myers couldn’t attend in the wake of California fires that claimed his property. Veteran Israeli filmmaker Dan Wolman was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jonathan Ryes Myers to walk red carpet; Ingmar Bergman retrospective brings seven of his classics
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 12, 2018)

The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) opens in Goa on November 20 with the world premiere of The Aspern Papers. Set in Venice in the late 19th century, the film is based on Henry James’ eponymous novella. A story of obsession, grandeur lost, and dreams of Byronic adventures, the period drama is co-written, co-produced and directed by Julien Landais. Landais along with his leading man and lady, Golden Globe winner Jonathan Rhys Meyers and actress Joely Richardso, will be present at IFFI. Also in attendance will be Nicolas Hau and Morgane Polanski (actress-daughter of filmmaker Roman Polanski). The film also features 81-year-old Venessa Redgrave feted as “one of the greatest living actresses of our times”.

The film festival directorate is understandably excited to have bagged one of the most talked about films of the year. “It will be a fabulous red carpet, a celebration of cinema,” promises a source. “It’s an acknowledgement that India’s profile in the international community is on the rise and a proud moment for the country.”

IFFI will also showcase seven classics of Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman in a retrospective which opens on November 21 as part of his centenary celebrations. The films include the 1966 Swedish psychological drama Persona revolving around a young nurse played by Bibi Andersson and Liv Ullmann as her patient, well-known stage actress Elisabet Vogler who has suddenly stopped speaking. Wild Strawberries, a 1957 Swedish drama, is notable for Victor Sjöström’s final screen performance as an old man recalling his past while The Seventh Seal, a historical fantasy is another gem. Bergman’s final film, the 2003 Saraband — a sequel to Bergman’s Scenes from a Marriage (1973) — the Summer with Monika which courted controversy when it opened in 1953 for its frank depiction of nudity, the 1978 Autumn Sonata (below) featuring Ingrid Bergman in her final screen appearance and the 1982 historical period drama, Fanny And Alexander, are also a must-see. Bergman Island, a documentary on the auteur directed by Marie Nyrerod, will also be screened.