IFFI Day 2 Highlights: Masterclasses, Restored Classics, and Cast Screenings

Day two of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025 in Goa was packed with insightful masterclasses, a screening of a restored classic, and appearances by major film stars and creators.

Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting, Dr. L. Murugan, inaugurated the Masterclass Series, which was opened to the general public for the first time, emphasizing wider accessibility.

🗣️ Masterclass: Reflections from Two Eras

The first Masterclass session brought together two generations of filmmakers in an intimate dialogue:

• Speakers: Veteran filmmaker Muzaffar Ali and his son, filmmaker Shaad Ali (Saathiya, Kill Dil).
• Key Discussion Points:
  • Muzaffar Ali’s initial career days, which began with Air India.
  • His magnum opus, Umrao Jaan.
  • The long-unfinished Kashmir epic, Zooni, which revolves around the 16th-century poet Habba Khatoon. Shaad Ali discussed his attempt to restore the film’s negative and soundtrack, a process he called “experimental and very expensive therapy” that has led to a feature-documentary, a glimpse of which was shown.
  • Muzaffar Ali emphasized that films about Kashmir must be “born in Kashmir,” urging local talent to tell their own stories rooted in the culture.

📽️ Restored Classics and Gala Screenings

The day featured special screenings that bridged the past and present of Indian cinema:

• 1942: A Love Story Screening: The romantic classic was screened in a beautifully restored 8K format. Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra revealed that the restoration process took years. He was joined by cast members Jackie Shroff and Anupam Kher, along with the film’s writer, Kamna Chandra.
• Amaran Screening: Superstar Kamal Haasan, along with lead actors Sai Pallavi and Sivakarthikeyan, presented their acclaimed film Amaran, which served as the opening Feature Film in the Indian Panorama Section.
• The Family Man 3 Screening: The cast, including Manoj Bajpayee, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Nimrat Kaur, along with creators Raj Nidimoru and DK, were present for the screening of the first episode of their highly anticipated third season.
• 120 Bahadur Screening: Filmmaker and actor Farhan Akhtar, accompanied by his wife Shibani Akhtar and the film’s director Razneesh Ghai, watched his latest movie with a packed house. Farhan revealed that this was his first film to be premiered at the festival.