Doordarshan introduced us to world of cinema: Anupam Kher

Panaji, Nov 22: Over the years, IFFI has blossomed from a humble film festival into a grand celebration, an immersive journey that brings together the magic of cinema, music, and life itself.

Last year, IFFIESTA proudly took up the mantle of guiding this cultural odyssey, weaving music and art into the very fabric of IFFI.

With the grand inauguration of IFFIESTA, organised by Doordarshan and Waves OTT, held last evening at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa, the 56th edition of IFFI continued its timeless tradition of illuminating minds and exploring the rich tapestry of music, culture and live performances.

The evening gleamed with stars as a gathering of luminaries graced the stage, each a beacon of their craft.

Among them, the venerable actor Anupam Kher, the Oscar-winning maestro M M Keeravani, and the National Award-winning actress Aimee Baruah from Assam, joined by Ravi Kottarakara, President of the Film Federation of India, and the soulful voice of South Korea, MP Jaewon Kim.

Together with the Director General of Doordarshan K Satish Nambudiripad they gathered to celebrate the magic of cinema.

DG Nambudiripad in his opening remarks said, “We all are aware that the lineage channel which is the product of the satellite revolution is slowly giving its way to the digital revolution; handheld devices where people can watch programmes anytime. It will only be pertinent for Doordarshan to evolve according to the demand of time. That’s precisely what it has done with entering into the new digital phase with WAVES OTT. The WAVES OTT offers safe, wholesome entertainment for families.”

He continued to urge, “We'll request the youngsters, the generation G, who are glued into the digital devices to come to Doordarshan to see the strength of a legacy that Doordarshan represented or rather represents, to see the programmes.”

Taking the cue from him, Kher reminisced on the stage of IFFIESTA, “We all have started our life from Doordarshan. We are fortunate that it was Doordarshan that introduced us to the world of cinema. I was born because of Doordarshan which I can’t forget. Doordarshan is a fragrance that lingers in our lives, still wrapping us in its embrace.”

The night began with a heartfelt rendition of Vande Mataram by Jaewon Kim, her voice a bridge between nations.

“I am very happy to be here. Thank you for the warm welcome. I am sincerely looking forward to movies and content collaboration between India and Korea”, she remarked before singing the song.

Later, the evening featured a two-hour performance by singer-songwriter Osho Jain.