‘India Lockdown’ will have its world premiere at the upcoming International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The 53rd edition of the festival is scheduled to take place from November 20 to 28 in Panaji, Goa.

Directed by Madhur Bhandarkar, ‘India Lockdown’ is inspired by true events. It will depict four parallel stories and the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic on the people of India.

The movie features Prateik Babbar, Sai Tamhankar, Shweta Basu Prasad, Prakash Belawadi and Aahana Kumra.

Kritik Naik from Porvorim bagged the first prize of 10,000 at the All Goa Eco Friendly Aakash Kandil Competition 2022 organized by Herald TV in association with Adlem Goem at a function held at Old Goa recently.

The second prize of 5,000 in the contest went to Shri Varad Jalmi from Priol, Ponda whereas the third prize of  2,500 was bagged by Shri. Yogesh Gaonkar from Betoda, Ponda. Shri Vishal Palyekar from Taleigao and Shri Vinod Naik from Talulem, Bandoda won the fourth and fifth prizes respectively.

About 40 artists from all over Goa Participated in the competition.

Shri Prakash Naik, Information Officer, Department of Information and Publicity who was the Chief Guest while speaking on the occasion complimented Herald TV for its maiden initiative in organising Eco Friendly Aakash Kandil competition. He said such endeavour’s apart from providing excellent opportunity to the people particularly the youth to exhibit their artistic skills and creativity substantially helps to create awareness about conserving the environment and maintaining ecological balance.

Shri Naik also highlighted the importance of the Diwali festival which symbolizes the victory of good over evil and consolidates the bonds of unity among the people of different faiths. He said, Diwali the festival of lights is being celebrated by Hindu communities across the world and organising Aakash Kandil contest involving people to mark such an auspicious occasion is a decisive step in the right direction.

Shri Naik further said, Media is an effective tool to disseminate information and Herald publications are working to highlight various issues concerning the society through Print and Electronic media. In addition to this the Herald publications is also contributing for social cause by organising socio-cultural activities such as Aakash Kandil Competition which is highly commendable he added.

The competition was judged by Shri Prakash Naik, Miss Anisha Phadte and Shri Dattaraj Chari. Shri Naik and other dignitaries gave away prizes to the winners.

Shri Rahul attached to Digital world and Ms. Teja Chodankar, Secretary Marketing, Herald Publications were present on the occasion. Earlier, Shri Sagar Naik, Marketing Executive, Herald TV welcomed and later proposed a vote of thanks.

This is about the master Italian film-maker Pier Paolo Pasolini. The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is paying tribute to this legend this year.

Pasolini’s film career reflected a distinctly personal and often scandalously erotic adaptations of classic literary texts: ‘Oedipus Rex’ (1967); ‘The Decameron’ (1971); ‘The Canterbury Tales’ (1972) and ‘Arabian Nights’ (1974) with his own more personal projects, expressing his controversial views on Marxism, atheism, fascism and homosexuality, notably, ‘Pigsty’ and ‘120 Days of Sodom’ (1975), a relentlessly grim fusion of Mussolini’s Fascist Italy with the ‘Marquis de Sade’ which was banned in Italy and other countries.

A few of Pasolini’s masterpieces being showcased in IFFI-53 are as follows.

Accattone This 1961 Italian drama film written and directed by Pasolini, narrates the story of Vittorio ‘Accattone’ Cataldi. He supports himself as a pimp for his longtime girlfriend, Maddalena. When his meal ticket goes to jail after being assaulted by a pack of thugs, Accattone scrambles to survive, reduced to begging for food from his ex-wife, Ascenza. When he meets the virginal Stella, he sees a way back into his former profession.

Oedipus Rex /Edipo re  Another Italian film of the master which has been honoured at various reputed film festivals around the world. The story shows a father, motivated by jealousy, thinks that his new-born child will take away the love of his wife. He takes away the baby to abandon him, at which point the film’s setting changes to ancient Greece. The child is rescued and taken to the King of Corinth Polybus and Queen Merope and raised as their own son. The child is given the name Oedipus.

Pigsty /Porcile Made in 1969, this film narrates two dramatic stories. In an undetermined past, a young cannibal (who killed his own father) is condemned to be torn to pieces by some wild beasts. In the second story, Julian, the young son of a post-war German industrialist, is on the way to lie down with his farm’s pigs, because he doesn’t like human relationships.

The Hawks and the Sparrows /Uccellacci e uccellini This 1966 film is much acclaimed by critics. The film shows Totò and his son Ninetto roam the neighbourhood and the countryside of Rome. During the walk they observe a body being removed from a house following a murder. They next encounter a talking crow, who is described in the inter-titles thus: ‘For the benefit of those who were not paying attention or are in doubt, we remind you that the Crow is – as you say – a left-wing intellectual of the kind found living before Palmiro Togliatti’s death’.

The Gospel According to St. Matthew /Il vangelo secondo Matteo A noted masterpiece of international cinema made in 1964. The film depicts Jesus Christ. During the times of the Roman Empire, Jesus travels around the country with his disciples, healing the blind, raising the dead and proclaiming the arrival of the Kingdom of God. He claims to be the Son of God which brings him into direct confrontation with the Jewish leaders. He is arrested, handed over to the Romans and charged with sedition, of which he is declared innocent by the Roman governor of Judea, but is, nevertheless, crucified at the behest of the Temple leaders.