Michael Douglas: India’s Future is Secure with Modi in Charge- Analysis

Veteran Hollywood actor and producer Michael Douglas was awarded the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at the 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on Tuesday. The festival, which took place in Goa, featured over 270 films from around the world, with the Best Film Award going to the Iranian movie “Endless Borders.”

During the festival, Douglas commended Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his administration for their investment in the film industry and the transformation of it into a powerful soft power tool. Douglas stated that in recent years, more funding has been allocated to the production and financing of films, resulting in a successful period for the industry.

Douglas also mentioned that the participation of 78 countries at this year’s IFFI reflects India’s growing influence as a cinema powerhouse. He acknowledged that Indian films are renowned and well-known globally, and expressed confidence in the future of the industry.

Douglas commented specifically on the success of the Indian film “RRR,” which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. He praised the film and stated that it deserved all the recognition it received, lauding it as stunning and expressing his belief that it is a wonderful time for the Indian film industry to gain confidence.

Catherine Zeta-Jones, Douglas’ wife, also attended the festival and expressed her admiration for Indian cinema. She mentioned the film “The Lunchbox” as one of her favorites and revealed that her children grew up watching “Om Shanti Om” on repeat.

The IFFI is organized by the National Film Development Corporation of India and the government of Goa. According to India’s Information and Broadcasting Minister, the Indian film market has been growing steadily with an average annual growth of 20% in the last three years. The minister highlighted that India’s media and entertainment industry is currently the fifth largest in the world.

Source: RT news: India ‘in good hands’ – Michael Douglas on Modi