Panaji, Nov 21 : Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated Indian Panorama Section at 52nd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here Today.

The inaugural ceremony introduced the audiences to IFFI’s official selection of 24 Feature and 20 Non-Feature films under the Indian Panorama 2021 category for this year.

Himachal Pradesh Governor Rajendra Arlekar along with Thakur felicitated the filmmakers and the cast and crew of the opening films, Semkhor (Feature) and Ved- The Visionary (Non-feature) and presented them certificates of participation.

Thakur congratulated the filmmakers and said they had attempted and struggled to bring stories from the remote corners of the country.

‘Now, content is king and if you create the right content, it will go to not only National but to the International level. We have the talent among us and with all your help, we will take IFFI to new heights,” he said.

Thakur also remembered former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on the occasion.

“Earlier we saw that only actors, directors and producers were being awarded in Film festivals but now we are also honoring the technicians, the background people whose work make to a film complete,” the minister said and urged the international filmmakers to come and shoot in India.

Himachal Pradesh Governor Rajendra Arlekar said, “I am not a Film Critic or an ardent follower of Films, but I have always watched the Indian Panorama, how our films reflect our society. I say this with pride that the Indian films have beautifully reflected and showed the aspirations, needs and struggles of our society.”

The opening film in the Feature film category, Semkhor, which was screened in the Indian Panorama Section, is the first ever Dimasa language film to be screened in the Indian Panorama Section.

Aimee Baruah, Director of the film, thanked IFFI for the honor and recognition of the film.

She said the film Semkhor deals with social taboos and through the film she has tried to bring forth the struggles faced by the Dimasa Community in Assam.

Rajiv Prakash, Director of the opening film in Non-feature film category, Ved- The Visionary, said the film was the story of his father’s resilience and fortitude in the field of film-making.

‘The movie shows his endeavors which shall remain embedded in the history of cinema,” he said.(UNI)