AR Rahman speaks during the closing ceremony of IFFI 2015 (L) and Governor of Goa, Mridula Sinha presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to the Russian filmmaker, Nikita Mikhalkov. Chief Minister of Goa, Laxmi Kant Parsekar, the Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and the Music Maestro A.R. Rahman are also seen. PTIPanaji: The power of the art called cinema to unite people across the world was underscored by the dignitaries who attended the closing ceremony of the 46th edition of the International Film Festival of India here on Monday.
Addressing a packed audience at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium on Goa University campus at Taleigao here, Oscar winner Indian musical maestro A.R. Rahman and Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore opined that films united people across regions and beliefs.
Rahman, who was the chief guest at the closing ceremony, said cinema halls have become the modern shrines of unity. "Cinema threatres have become modern shrines of unity... I hope better things will happen and people come with great cinematic, humanitarian movies which will unite the world and also spread culture and make us understand the commonality of consciousness," he said.
Meanwhile, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that cinema cuts across castes and religions. "Indian cinema is even more unique. When we go a theatre, it can be an escape from the world, it can be an inspiration for all of us too. The words stay with us. Most of the time we become part of the movie. We silently ally with the underdog in the movie," Rathore said.
"We become part of the film and we carry the message of the film when we go back into our lives," the minister added. He hailed Rahman saying the latter's name itself unites India.
Earlier, on the sidelines of an IFFI related event, Rahman had supported a section of the Indian intelligentsia who returned their awards and relinquished top posts as a mark of protest towards the 'increasing incidents of religious intolerance in the country'.
Over 7,000 delegates from 38 countries, most from India, attended the 2015-edition of the premier film festival of the country which came to a close with the screening of Argentinian film The Clan (El Clan).
A total of 187 films from 89 countries, 26 of which are official entries for the Oscars, were screened at IFFI apart from the films which were part of the Indian Panorama section.
South American filmmaker Ciro Guerra's film "Embrace of the Serpent" won this year's prestigious Golden Peacock, the award given to the best film at the festival. British filmmaker Peter Greenaway won the best director award for his filmEisenstein in Guanajuato, while Julia Vargas’ film Sealed Cargo won the Special Jury award.
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