Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Encourages Filmmakers to Inspire Hope and Celebrate Life at IFFI 2024

During the opening ceremony of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2024 near Panaji, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar urged filmmakers to create movies that inspire hope and make life a celebration. The event was attended by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. A film based on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's life is being produced under the Columbia India Audio Visual Treaty, marking the first project of this agreement.

Focus on Inspiration and Well-being

While interacting with actors Abhishekh Mukherjee and Bhumi Pednekar, who hosted the festival's inaugural function, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar emphasised the dual role of storytelling: presenting facts and uplifting spirits. He expressed that films should leave audiences feeling inspired. "When people watch movies, they should walk out with some inspiration," he stated.

The spiritual guru highlighted the importance of mental well-being among artists, noting that despite entertaining others, many face sadness in their personal lives. He stressed the need for artists to focus on mental health and happiness. "This is what we should correct. It is important for artist fraternity to look after their mental health, depression issues and concentration on the happiness... I would want the artiste to live for every moment," he said.

Global Reach of New Film

Mahaveer Jain, the producer of the first film under the India Columbia Treaty, was also acknowledged at the event. He mentioned that the film would be a global production in English, with plans to dub it into Spanish and other languages. This initiative aims to reach a wider audience across different cultures.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also expressed his desire for the Indian film industry's Happiness Index to be at its peak. He believes that films have a significant role in shaping society's outlook and should contribute positively to people's lives.

The collaboration between India and Columbia through this treaty represents a significant step in international film production. It highlights the potential for cultural exchange and mutual growth in the cinematic world.