IFFI 2022: 'RRR' has showcased the real power of Indian cinema, says Indian Union Minister Anurag Thakur

India's I&B Minister Anurag Thakur took some time out to speak to the media ahead of the grand opening ceremony of the 53rd edition of the International Film Festival of India in Goa. Lauding SS Rajamouli's 'RRR' for showcasing the "real abilities of Indian cinema", Thakur recalled his conversation with an Australian minister and shared it with the media.

"I recently met an Australian minister. He told me that he watched ‘RRR’ a couple of days ago and he really liked it. It feels so good to see how the film is now hailed as an international film. RRR not only did the business but also showed the real abilities of Indian cinema," Anurag Thakur said.

"Regional cinema and others who can’t get a platform anywhere else, reach Goa’s IFFI. Via this platform, they can reach corners of the world. The festival is also a market for buyers,"he added.

Speaking about the 2022 IFFI ceremony, the minister informed the mediathat this time people from the remotest areas have participated and he is excited to see their work.

"This year lots of premiers are happening here. Several new initiatives are taken. This time, 1000 entries came for the 75 Creative Minds. 75 creative minds were chosen from 10 fields. People from remote areas also participated. 75 creative minds is for those who used to feel scared of coming to Mumbai, now their requirements are being bridged, and opportunities are being provided for all to be able to participate in the mainstream film industry. This IFFI platform is not just for the Mumbai film industry but for people from across the nation to come together and work together,” Anurag Thakur shared.

The minister also spoke about making India a "global content hub" and creating a collaborative ecosystem for India's film industriesto go global through its film market.

He said, "The IFFI is Asia's largest film festival and we are in the 53rd edition... We want to establish this as a platform where eminent filmmakers, directors, and artists of the country and the world get an opportunity to showcase their films. We want to make India a global content hub, be it for content creation, co-production, filmmaking or shooting."

The period drama helmed by Rajamouli created waves across the globe and turned out to be a blockbuster. The film starredRam Charan, Jr NTR, Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn in pivotal roles.According to reports, the film is estimated to have grossed $150 million worldwide by the end of its run at the box office.

IFFI 2022 is all set to kickstart in Goa today. Itwill run till November 28. The nine-day festival's opening ceremony will be attended by several showbiz personalities including Ajay Devgn, Kartik Aaryan, Pankaj Tripathi, Manoj Bajpayee, Suniel Shetty, Varun Dhawan, and Sara Ali Khan.

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