Stepping away from the shadow of Bollywood, the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on Thursday paid tribute to classical dancers and dance forms of the country by hosting “Dancing Feet,” a film festival on classical dances and gurus.
Second in the series after last year's “Moments with Maestros,” “Dancing Feet” was inaugurated in the presence of Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat. Legendary artiste Sitara Devi was felicitated by Mr. Kamat along with Kathak doyen Pandit Birju Maharaj and veteran dancer Sonal Mansingh.
Twenty-two documentaries on noted artistes such as Uma Sharma, Kanak Rele, Raja and Radha Reddy, besides Sonal Mansingh, will be screened during the festival. At the inaugural function, documentaries on the works of Alarmel Velli and Mallika Sarabhai were screened to an appreciative audience.
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Paying tribute to Sonal Mansingh, a wheelchair-bound Sitara Devi said, “This girl dances so well. I know she is a veteran now but for me she will always be a girl.”
Ms. Mansingh reciprocated, “I am just Sonal. I will get Man (honour) when you bestow it on me.”
The section is the brainchild of Kuldip Sinha, Director-General, Films Division. “Today's music has no sangeet or nritya. It is not according to our tradition. We want to celebrate the tradition of good music and dance in cinema and beyond. This festival is an utsav of our legends and their achievements,” he said.
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