First Kashi Indian International Film Festival begins in Varanasi

Varanasi: The first Kashi Indian International Film Festival began in Varanasi on Monday. State Tourism, Culture and Charitable Affairs Minister Neelkanth Tiwari inaugurated the festival this evening while Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur will be present at the festival on the second day.

The three-day festival will showcase glimpses of Indian classical music and dance and events on famous philosophers, poets, writers and musicians.

Kashi is going to witness extravaganza of theatre, music, culture, arts and Bollywood in the festival which is expected to attract the filmmakers and film lovers of the



word to this ancient city.

The festival is being organised by Information and Broadcasting Ministry in collaboration with Film Bandhu and the Uttar Pradesh Government. Actor Manoj Joshi, singer Kailash Kher, and comedian Raju Srivastava performed on the first day of the event. Ms. Hema Malini, Anupam Kher, Rajpal Yadav, Satish Kaushik are among other Bollywood personalities who are participating in the event.

A panel discussion on Varanasi, local music, the importance of Uttar Pradesh as a centre for film production and the potential for regional cinema will be held on the second day of the event.