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Goa: The second day at IFFI 2018 saw some great action unfold on-screen, but even more interesting events played out off-screen at the multiple venues of the coveted film festival. One of the events to unfold early in the day was the inauguration of the Mahatma Gandhi exhibition at Kala Academy by the Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore accompanied by filmmaker Subhash Ghai and actress Poonam Dhillon.

Col Rathore said, “Along with entertainment and education, I am promoting films of business as well. We have also taken the opportunity to put an exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi, which is one of the finest exhibitions on the Father of the Nation. It is a very interactive exhibition that has been taken around the country earlier. Now we have brought it to Goa.”

This was followed by the inauguration of the State Focus section on the state of Jharkhand. On the occassion, Amit Khare, Secretary, I&B, Government of India, said, “We have begun with the State focus for the first time and we chose Jharkhand because we want to promote the filmmakers of the state. We believe that they are no less than the others. This not only increases the employment opportunities to the people but also trains them and hones their skills. Through IFFI, we want to tell that India has arrived on world platform. This has been made possible only because of positive intervention of states. Through the section of State Focus, we want international artists to know how the artists from smaller cities are a powerhouse of creative talent and that they too can make some amazing films. By keeping Jharkhand as State Focus, we aim to promote culture, language and talent. We will continue to do so every year with different states.”

The delegation from Israel, as a part of Country Focus on Israel at IFFI 2018, walked the red carpet. The red carpet saw more action as the versatile playback singer Arijit Singh, who is debuting as a director with his film Sa at IFFI 2018, walked the red carpet with his wife.

Maquinez Palace, an important venue of IFFI 2018 saw a busy day with a Masterclass and a panel discussion being held in the first half of the day. The masterclass by Prasoon Joshi, titled, ‘Lyrical Imagination Unleashed’ was one of the highlights of the day. Prasoon Joshi is the Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

In this session moderated by Sachin Chatte, the National Award winning lyricist Padma Shri Prasoon Joshi spoke at length about the factors that inspire his creative process, the difference and similarities between writing lyrics and poetry, and the need to find one’s true voice / style. The session also saw the singer-songwriter croon to the audiences, according to a PIB release.

Joshi spent his formative years in the lap of nature – in places like Almora, Nainital, Tehri and other scenic parts of India. When asked if nature plays a role in inspiring the stellar body of work that has won him laurels internationally, Joshi declined the notion saying, “It would be unfair to those creative people who have not grown up in the lap of nature.” Joshi said, “People have written in confinement too. It is the certain mental preparedness, sensitivity and the ability to express that plays a role.”

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