VINIKA VISWAMBHARAN
NT BUZZ
The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) began with unprecedented flair, unveiling its first-ever Grand Parade yesterday. This spectacular new initiative transformed the streets of Goa into a moving celebration of ‘India’s Cinematic Legacy’. Held on the DB Road near the Old GMC Complex, Panaji, the inaugural evening welcomed film personalities, cinephiles, industry leaders, and delegates from across the world to what continues to be India’s flagship international film event.
As spectacular as it was, (or could’ve been), the event was promised a 4 p.m. start, but was delayed by over an hour. In the meanwhile, the hosts kept the audience entertained with endless chatter, becoming its own pre-show. Goa rose to its feet as guest of honour, member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Jaewon Kim delivered a stirring rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’, marking 150 years of the iconic anthem.
Noted actor Anupam Kher later took the stage, expressing his delight at being part of the celebration, humorously engaging the audience with his ‘code action’ where the audience had to clap each time he scratched his head.
The dignitaries present included Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant; minister of state for information and broadcasting and parliamentary affairs, Government of India, Dr. L. Murugan; minister of state for new and renewable energy of India Shripad Naik; secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Sanjay Jaju; chief secretary of Goa Dr. V. Candavelou; Lord mayor of the City of Melbourne Nicholas Reece, festival director Shekhar Kapur, and national and international celebrities, as well as film industry leaders and local politicians.
In his welcome address, Jaju highlighted this year’s edition to the event, such as the AI Film Hackathon and the largest-ever WAVES Film Bazaar.
Murugan spoke on the enduring legacy of IFFI as a platform that bridges global and Indian cinema, while affirming that Goa has truly become the permanent home of the International Film Festival
of India.
“Traditionally, the festival used to begin at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium. This year, it begins as a grand cultural carnival, showcasing the diverse traditions of our states,” he said. He also noted that this year’s festival aims to strengthen creative exchange while nurturing new voices emerging from India’s dynamic
film landscape.
Following this, Sawant, in his address, highlighted Goa’s rise as an international filmmaking destination. “IFFI bridges Indian talent with global possibilities. Our dream is to make Goa the Creative Capital of India. Come to Goa, tell your stories, and shoot your films,” he said. He noted that IFFI 2025 commemorates the theme ‘Convergence of Creativity and Technology’, reflecting India’s initiative in the global creative revolution.
One of the most heartfelt moments of the evening was the felicitation of renowned actor Nandamuri Balakrishna for his remarkable contribution to Indian cinema. The tribute, which celebrated his 50 outstanding years of work in Telugu cinema, drew resounding applause, underlining his place as one of the industry’s most cherished and enduring icons.
He was felicitated by Murugan and Sawant. Balakrishna, in turn, expressed gratitude to the festival, to his fans and to the fraternity that has supported him throughout his career. His brief address emphasised the importance of cultural pride, artistic integrity and cinema’s deep emotional bond with audiences. The ‘historic’ parade was flagged off by the governor bringing cinema, culture, and pure spectacle to the streets. Delegates and the public witnessed vibrant floats, including 12 presented by the Goa government, celebrating rich diversity of regional cultures from different states and production houses, and cultural performances.
The parade’s highlights were the amazing folk production Bharat Ek Soor, presented by the Central Bureau of Communication, NFDC 50 Years’ Tableau, floats from states like Andhra Pradesh and Haryana honouring cinematic innovation across the country. True to the theme, the parade was an event “where stories step off the screen, artists fill the streets and the magic of cinema comes alive in motion.”
The inaugural was followed by the screening of the opening film ‘The Blue Trail’, directed by Gabriel Mascaro.
