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The opening ceremony of the 55th International Film Festival of India (Iffi) in Goa on Wednesday crammed in several Bollywood-style performances. But it also took some time to deal with the business of cinema, as well.

The spectacle came from “The Perfect Couple” breakout star Ishaan Khatter dancing to a medley of Bollywood hits and Manushi Chhillar to hit film songs from India’s various creative industries. Sanya Malhotra and Sunny Kaushal enacted a musical tableau chronicling the journey of Indian cinema from 1913 to the present day, which included showstoppers “Naatu Naatu” from “Rrr” and “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire.”

Australia is Iffi’s Country of Focus this year and there was a performance from Australian dancers as well.

On the business front, on the back of the India-Colombia audiovisual coproduction agreement that was signed in October, the first look at a film examining the role of guru and spiritual...

ControversyCinema is possible only if all languages and all cultures unite, actor Pawan Kalyan said at the audio launch of his upcoming film ‘Bro’.Pawan Kalyan / File imageActor-politician Pawan Kalyan has condemned the provincial move by the Film Employees Federation of South India (Fefsi), an association of the Tamil film industry, to engage only Tamil artists in Tamil films. Speaking at the audio launch of Bro, Pawan Kalyan said, “I appeal to Fefsi that you abandon the view that only our people should work in the industry. Today Telugu film industry is feeding everyone and accepting everyone. If the Tamil film industry restricts access to others, the industry will not flourish. If the Telugu industry is growing, it is because we are accepting of everyone.” Citing an example of how Bro had artists from across India, he said, “Cinema is possible only if all languages and all cultures unite.” Bro,...

Flix Flashback‘Suryavamsam’, ‘Minsara Kanavu’, ‘Bharathi Kannamma’, ‘Kaalemellam Kadhal Vaazhga’ were some of the other successful movies while there were lesser hits such as ‘Iruvar’, ‘Ullasam’, ‘Nerukku Ner’ and ‘Pistha’.Nandhu SundaramYouTube screenshotThere was a time in the pre-Netflix era – and even before multiplexes – when our affair at the movies was a totally different experience. If we rewind to exactly 25 years ago, we are transported to a time when private Tamil television (Sun TV) was only five years old and standalone theatres were still mostly the only place where we courted the stars. As it turns out, 1997 was a distinctive and extraordinary year for Tamil cinema. There was no shortage of critically acclaimed movies or blockbusters. A high was guaranteed practically every time you went to the theatre. Back then, before the age of social media, the movie-watching experience was so pure and so highly anticipated that satisfaction was always on the cards.