American actor and film producer Michael Douglas expressed his “pleasure”
in visiting Bharat and noted the nation has a big history of cinema. He also appreciated
Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts in the field of film production
and finance.
Attending the International Film Festival of India-IFFI in Goa, he said, “It
is always a pleasure visiting India but this is my first time in the south.
Cinema brings the world together and you have a big history of cinema in India.”
He termed the international festival as “so exciting” as the event has attracted more than 78 countries.
Douglas also appreciated PM Narendra Modi’s leadership
skills and expressed, “I think this is more and more the sort of spirit, and
the beauty of this festival is: You had 78 foreign countries represented and it’s
only a reflection of the strength of your Indian filming, which is renowned and
known around the world. I think you’re in very good hands I think it’s
beginning to.”
Besides, the American actor and producer praised Union Information and
Broadcasting, Minister Anurag Thakur for his efforts.
He remarked, “As I mentioned I do think that under
minister Anurag Thakur as well as Prime minister Modi the last few years we’ve
seen more money put into the production and financing of films, it’s been a
very successful time.”
Asserting that the movies unite people irrespective of race, religion and
gender, he shared, “I mean with all the different languages we speak movies
share the same language, audiences from wherever you are in the world can
understand what’s going on, movies bring us closer together and I think that’s
a very important aspect of it.”
Douglas acknowledged that the Indian film industry is making its mark globally
and the music of RRR is “spectacular” as its song Naatu Naatu won an Oscar
this year.
He expressed, “It was spectacular, I mean bravo won the Oscar for the
music but it was stunning. It deserves everything it gets and I think that it’s
a wonderful time for the film industry here to get the confidence.”
Douglas asserted this kind of achievement gives confidence to the
filmmakers to make good movies.
“It was a big-budget movie for any movie and I think it gives you more
confidence to try to make good films.”
He also thanked IFFI, saying, “Since we’re just leaving right now, let me
just thank the IFFI.”
On being conferred with the prestigious Satyajit Ray Excellence in Film
Lifetime Award at the International Film Festival of India, Veteran actor said,
“I am honoured to receive Satyajit Ray’s Excellence in Film Lifetime Award
International Indian Film Festival in Goa.”
The 79-year-old actor has won two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe
Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, the Cecil B DeMille Award, and the AFI Life
Achievement Award.
His first TV break came with The Experiment, a CBS Playhouse special in
1969, and it was the only time he was billed as ‘MK Douglas.’ His first notable
role was in the television series The Streets of San Francisco, in which he
co-starred with Karl Malden.
Other successful films he appeared in included Falling Down, The
American President, The Ghost and the Darkness, The Game, A Perfect
Murder, and many more.
ANI
