All does not seem to be well between the Indian film industry and the organizers of International Film Festival of India (IFFI).  

While most prominent film stars, both from Bollywood as well as from down south, appear to have boycotted the fest this year for reasons best known to them. Sources said that the Bollywood boycott is on the request of the Film Federation of India, which has not sent any films for the festival owing to its alleged protests against the Directorate. Even the international participation at the festival is not expected to be impressive.

Barring chief guest Shah Rukh Khan and a handful of Hindi films, Bollywood will virtually be unrepresented at this year’s IFFI 2007 at Panaji. This has led the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) to scrap a number of regular features at the festival this year.

However, a section of the regional filmmakers are happy over the turn of events. Thus, far they have been criticizing the DFF for emphasizing too much on Bollywood films.

Meanwhile, Amitabh Bachchan is reported to have refused the Directorate’s invitation to present Rituparno Ghosh’s film ‘The Last Lear’ at the festival. He is said to be angry with the authorities for scrapping his name from the Chief Guest’s list owing to political reasons.

Similarly, most other regular names at the IFFI every year –a Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Irrfan Khan, Boman Irani, Nana Patekar, Mithun Chakravorty, Farhan Akhtar and Vishal Bhardwaj.

Even south Indian films’ hero Manmooty whose two films would be screened at the fest, has refused to attend the IFFI 2007. Amidst such large-scale boycott by film personalities from all parts of the country, the DFF seems to be in a fix about the success of IFFI 2007.

Meanwhile, DFF director Neelam kapoor said that they had tried their best, but the Film Federation refused to send any films for the fest. According to her, the industry should start viewing the festival as its own and not need to be persuaded to participate. Even the big stars need to feel this is their festival instead of waiting for us to sponsor them. However, no one seems to be buying her theory. 

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