The intoxicating classical performances on numbers like “Mohepanghat per nandlalchedgayo re…”,’Thaderahiyo o bankeyaar re.. “ Kanha main to se haari…” “ MainRadhateri tum era Shyam..” were saturated with both elusive magic and devotional currents. A jugalbandi featuringKathak doyen PanditBirjuMaharaj and sitar maestro UstadNishat Khan enthralled the audience. The galaxy of stars present on the occasion included PremChopra,NanaPatekar, Rekha, Jackie Shroff, Rani Mukherjee,ManojBajpai,HumaQureshi and Alia Bhatt.
Expressing her gratitude, Susan Sarandon said, ‘India has a rich history of film-making and is always eager to make films which broaden our horizon.’ The multi-dimentional film personality, Kamal Hassan said he owed his success as an artist to the fraternity of the world cinema. Describing her association with the world of cinema, AshaBhonsle acknowledged that seventy years in Indian film industry gave her immense love and affection.
The actor who mesmerized many a generation with her sterling performance, WaheedaRehman received the first Centenary Award from the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Manish Tewari and Chief Minister, Goa ShriManoharParrikar, the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award Jiri Menzel was accompanied to the dias by renowned film-maker Ramesh Sippy and his wife, Kiran Sippy. He received the award from Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Chief Minister and Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Addressing the august gathering, Jiri Menzel said, ‘I feel proud to know that my films are well-accepted here in India’ .
Earlier welcoming the participants, ShriBimalJulka, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said that cinema has been a part and parcel of Indian reality. To promote India as a film destination the Ministry has been taking efforts to put a single-window mechanism in place, he added. He said India is the only country that makes films in 39 languages and dialects.