Mumbai: the eagerly awaited Jagran Film Festival 2023 had a grand inauguration at Cinepolis, Mumbai, commencing an exceptional cinematic journey. Presented by Rajnigandha in partnership with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, the first day promised a remarkable cinematic adventure. The inaugural ceremony was graced by renowned director, screenwriter, and producer Anees Bazmi, joined by Amit Rai, DK, and Raj.
The eleventh edition of the festival glittered with Bollywood luminaries, including Bhumi Pednekar, Rhea Kapoor, Karan Boolani, and casting director Mukesh Chhabra. It also aims to honour Indian cinema legends like Satish Kaushik, Lata Mangeshkar, Vikram Gokhale, and K Viswanath, with a special focus on movies "Kaagaz" and "Lamhe" as a tribute to Satish Kaushik and Lata Mangeshkar.
Day one featured engaging panel discussions with celebrities like Anees Bazmi, Bhumi Pednekar, Rhea Kapoor, Karam Boolani, Amit Rai, Mukhesh Chhabra, DK, and Raj. They shared valuable insights and experiences from their illustrious careers, captivating the audience with their dialogues.
In a candid discussion moderated by Nayandeep Rakshit, accomplished directors Anees Bazmi, Amit Rai, DK, and Raj shared their experiences and early career challenges in crafting stories for OTT and theatrical releases, underscoring the importance of well-crafted scripts and casting choices.
The team of "Thank You for Coming" engaged in an open discussion. Rhea Kapoor acknowledged the potential criticism of her film choices but emphasized the connection with her target audience. Bhumi Padnekar discussed the film's message of self-acceptance and personal responsibility for happiness. Karan Boolani emphasised the importance of empathising with characters and understanding their perspective, highlighting the hidden forces perpetuating inequality. This discussion was moderated by Nayandeep Rakshit.
Mukesh Chhabra, in an engaging casting discussion, discussed his career journey and his deep love for the film industry, emphasizing his unique path to making a meaningful contribution.
The festival premiered with "Guthlee Ladoo," including a special screening of "Darran Chhoo," "Eismayer" for the international opening, and "Jananam: 1947 Pranayam Thudarunnu" for the regional opening.
As the festival partner, Custard Apple Pictures presented the Hindi film "Banwari Ki Amma," directed by O.P. Srivastava. Set in 1970s Lucknow, it explores the life of an ambitious middle-class family, featuring an elderly maid known for her culinary skills, and their shared existence in a cramped house.
Day two will witness in-conversations with stars like Aanand L. Rai, Piyush Mishra, Vishal Batra (brother of Kargil war hers Param Veer Chakra- Vikram Batra) and Anmol Ahuja
The world’s largest travelling film festival is all set to enrapture audiences with an exceptional array of world-class films from all around the globe.
For Registration log on to: www.jff.co.in.
