Report and pics by Meenakshi Karanth for Daijiworld News Network, Bangalore

Bangalore, Dec 22: Beginning today some of the best national and international films will be screened in Bangalore as part of Suchitra Bengalooru International Film Festival 2006. The festival, having noted filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli as the festival director, began with the screening of films like Munnudi, Bettada Hoovu and One Start and Two Coffees.

The festival has received a good response by the youth of Bangalore. However, there has not been an extraordinary response owing to various probable reasons. “I am really happy to see so many young people come to watch these films. It is encouraging in a way,” said Annaya Kasaravalli after watching Bettada Hoovu.

Speaking to Daijiworld, Girija Lokesh, a prominent actress in Kannada films and television serials said, “The festival has been organized very well. However, since most people from the fraternity itself are working as of now it is not possible for all of them to be present during the screening of films. It is a commendable effort. I hope people realize the value of this festival.”

Movies will be screened only at three theatres – Kailash, Tribhuvan and Movieland. Explaining the reason behind choosing these theatres as venues and not the new multiplexes of Bangalore Girish Kasaravalli said, “It is not possible for the multiplexes to allow us to use their screens continuously for all the days as they have other movies running. Besides, these are the best theatres as of now other than the new multiplex theatres.”

There was also an open forum where festival organizers from different parts of the world discussed the relevance of these festivals in detail. Moderated by Narahari Rao of Sanjayvani, the panel comprised of programme director of the International Film Festival (Goa), Sudhir Nandramkar, director of the Mumbai Film Festival, Rada Sesic, programme adviser, Rotterdam International Film Festival and Qazi Abdul Rahim, director for the festival at Spain.

Appreciating Indian films Sesic pointed out that in they are very popular among the people in Netherlands. She also gave points on how the festival can be made a grand success with the support of other media houses.

“Kasaravalli’s films were a big hit at our festival. People have also appreciated the films of Guru Dutt and Jahnu Bharua. We now have theatres screening Indian films on a regular basis,” she said.

The festival promises to be an entertaining and interesting one for all young and old.