The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) kickstarted recently in Panaji, Goa. Several filmmakers, and actors from various film industries across the country attended the festival. Bollywood celebs like Karan Johar, Sara Ali Khan, Pankaj Tripathi, and Jissu Sengupta, were also present. Veteran documentary filmmaker Arvind Sinha made a comment on Karan that has been condemned by Indian Film & Television Directors' Association (IFTDA) chief Ashoke Pandit. Arvind questioned the presence of Bollywood in the festival. He said that Bollywood through its own money, finance, and muscle power is getting into these spaces.
Ashoke Pandit reacted to the comments of Arvind Sinha as he told Etimes, "I condemn the statement made by Arvind Sinha who said that the likes of Karan Johar should not be given entry to IFFI. He also said Bollywood is different. How can he say something like that? It is cinema. As IFTDA chief, I condemn the statement that ridicules tough filmmakers like Karan Johar who has contributed in a big way to Indian cinema and all actors and directors who attended the IFFI festival. Arvind Sinha has no right to say anything. Calling it 'nautanki' is also sad and demeaning them is unacceptable. I demand an apology from Arvind Sinha for ridiculing the achievers of our film industry''.
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The IFTDA also condemned Sinha's remarks in their official statement. They called his speech ''distasteful, disgusting and disastrous''.
The statement further reads: ''Indian Film & Television Directors' Association strongly condemns the irresponsible statement of Mr. Arvind Sinha, using the words 'Bollywood Tamasha' and 'Nautanki' for eminent Producers, Directors and Artists of Film Industry. A veteran producer of superhit films, Mr. Karan Johar, is the most respected and honoured Producer of films and has a unique position in the film industry. To say 'The Film Festival is not for them' has made a dent in the sincere efforts of our government to make the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, a highlight for the film makers, distributors, artists, technicians and guests from the whole world. IFTDA pity the remarks of Mr. Arvind Sinha."
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On the second day of IFFI 2023, Arvind Sinha had told reporters, "What is to be promoted (through IFFI) is good cinema. Bollywood has its own money, finance, muscle power, and through all these things they are getting into these spaces. They (IFFI organisers) have to support the documentary filmmakers, feature filmmakers who need support.''
The filmmaker also said that it is not the fault of Bollywood but people “who are making the decision should have clarity that public taxpayers' money should not be spent on filmmakers like Karan Johar” as he has a lot of money.
''There are no rajas-maharajas to support the artists, the government should support any work of art... Why should these spaces be given to those who already have everything? They don't need support from the government. What are they doing here? The film festival is not for them. The film festival should be for good cinema,'' added Sinha.
Celebs like Madhuri Dixit and Shahid Kapoor performed at the opening event. The former was also honoured with the Special Recognition for Contribution to Bharatiya Cinema Award at the ceremony.
