Bollywood set to dominate the 37th IFFI in Goa

Mumbai, Nov 4 (UNI) Bollywood is all set to once again cast its spell over the 37th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) being held in the tiny coastal state of Goa for the third consecutive year.

Music launches of as many as 22 movies, film premiers and mahurat shots are planned in a span of 11 days.

Concerts by playback singer Sonu Nigam and another one titled 'Salaam Boss' to pay tribute to late R D Burman by musical trio Shankar-Ehsaan Loy are also being planned.

The year 2006's biggest hits 'Rang De Basanti' and 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' are among the bouquet of blockbusters to be screened in the festival on beach.

However, Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) CEO Nandini Paliwal told reporters here today that, efforts are being made to give IFFI, a pan-Indian identity and all language filmmakers and actors should feel the festival is one of their own. As many as three Marathi films 'Bayo' by Gajendra Ahire, 'Maati Maay' by Chitra Palekar and 'Baadha' by Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukhtankar will be screened in the Panorama section.

'Diversity of Indian Cinema', a theme based inaugural ceremony scheduled for November 23 will comprise performances by leading movie artistes from different parts of the country.

Noted actor-filmmaker Shashi Kapoor will inaugurate the festival and Bollywood actors like Anil Kapoor and Vidya Balan are scheduled to participate in the ceremony, she added.

Spanish film 'Volver', which won the best actress and best film trophies at the recent Cannes film festival will be the opening film and 'Babel', winner of the best director award at Cannes this year will be the closing film.

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