Though the closing ceremony of the 48th edition of International Film Festival of India in Goa was a star-studded affair, the controversy around the screening of S Durga refused to go away. S Durga (previously titled Sexy Durga) was unceremoniously dropped from IFFI, a decision taken by the Information and Broadcast Ministry headed by Smriti Irani. Later, it was declared that Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s S Durga would be screened at the festival, however, hours before the closing ceremony it was announced that the film will not be screened. The film’s director termed the controversy around the film’s screening as “total mockery of the democracy”. Despite filmmakers like Majid Majidi attending the film festival, row over the screening of S Durga and Nude raisedserious questionsabout the diktats issued by the authorities.
While the debate will rage on the undemocratic ways of stifling creativity in the country in the name of moral licensing, we take a lighter look at the festival. While the festival started on November 20 in the presence of Shah Rukh Khan, Shahid Kapoor and Sridevi, the closing ceremony saw Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar.
Here’s a look at the celebrities at the film festival:
Shah Rukh Khan inaugurated the festival on November 20. In his speech, he said that films and the magic of storytelling should bind us instead of tearing us apart. Photo courtesy: PR Wire
Sridevi inaugurated the the Indian Panorama section of the Goa festival. She looked gorgeous in a Sabyasachi sari. Photo courtesy: PR Wire
Janhvi Kapoor accompanied her mother in an Anamika Khanna lehenga at IFFI. She will be making her debut in the Hindi remake of Sairat. Photo courtesy: PR Wire
Radhika Apte was seen in a Divya Reddy lehenga at the film festival. Photo courtesy: PR Wire
AR Rahman who has composed music for Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi’s Beyond The Clouds was also at the film festival. Photo courtesy: PR Wire
Shahid Kapoor was also spotted at the film festival. His brother, Ishaan Khatter’s film Beyond The Clouds was screened at IFFI. Photo courtesy: PR Wire
Amitabh Bachchan was named the Indian Personality of the Year at the IFFI. In his speech, he said, ” In this fast world of today, where can you find such a wonderful and worthy example of unity and integration as we do in the world of cinema.” Photo courtesy: PR Wire
Akshay Kumar at the closing ceremony of the International Film Festival of India in Goa. Photo courtesy: PR Wire
Bhumi Pednekar in a Gaurav Gupta gown at the closing ceremony of IFFI. Photo courtesy: PR Wire
Zaira Wasim, the star of Secret Superstar, at IFFI. Photo courtesy: PR Wire
Katrina Kaif in an Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla ensemble at the closing ceremony of IFFI. Photo courtesy: PR Wire
Alia Bhatt seen in a Needle & Thread gown at IFFI. Photo courtesy: PR Wire
Karan Johar, Sushant Singh Rajput, Sidharth Malhotra at the closing ceremony of International Film Festival of India in Goa. Photo courtesy: PR Wire
