Mumbai: In a historic development, Marathi film industry’s biggest film festival took to a global platform in a unique avatar. The International Marathi Film Festival Awards (IMFFA) was launched in a beautiful thematic manner on the Star Cruise Virgo in Hong Kong depicting the ethos, the essence and growth of the Marathi culture and it’s film world. First ever IMFFA was a star studded event with many known faces from the Marathi film industry as well as from Bollywood in attendance. Sachin Pilgaonkar, Swapnil Joshi, Mahesh Manjrekar, Saai Tamankar, Reema Lagoo and many more dressed in their best made there presence felt.
The show as promised was truly unconventional with never-seen-before acts by international artists and marathi film stars which created a stunning atmosphere of IMFFA in middle of how sea. The most appreciated and grandeur performances was of Ballroom and Latin King of India Sandip Soparrkar and gorgeous super model partner Jesse Randhawa. Dressed in Designer Rohit Verma gold and black creations the dancing duo set the stage on fire with their fabulous sensually romantic performance and left the audience awestruck. Their unique performance started with famous English songs moving into Bollywood hits followed by popular Marathi song, proving that marathi music is truly universal and can be adapted to any style of international dance.
At the symposium held to promote Marathi cinema Sandip Soparrkar said, “It is an honour for us to perform for IMFFA, this film festival is one of it’s kind and I am glad that our dance is creating awareness about marathi films to an international audience.”
The blue carpet of IMFFA too was filled with glitz and glamour. Here the dancing couple of India chose to go traditional. Jesse wore a blood red and gold saree by Rohit Verma with diamond and gold jewellery by Dev Balani of Malkish jewels complimenting her on the blue carpet Sandip chose to wear black shervani by his favourite designer Deepak Shah of More Mischief accessorising it with red broach n his trade mark red Tilak.
IMFFA is a rare start by Marathi Cinema lovers to make regional films reach to the world film lovers. Sure film festival and award shows like these will see Marathi film industry enter the hearts of the global audience soon.