Over the years, IFFI has blossomed from a humble film festival into a grand celebration—an immersive journey that brings together the magic of cinema, music, and life itself. Last year, IFFIESTA proudly took up the mantle of guiding this cultural odyssey, weaving music and art into the very fabric of IFFI.
With the grand inauguration of IFFIESTA, organized by Doordarshan and Waves OTT, held last evening at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa, the 56th edition of IFFI continued its timeless tradition of illuminating minds and exploring the rich tapestry of music, culture and live performances.
The evening gleamed with stars as a gathering of luminaries graced the stage, each a beacon of their craft. Among them, the venerable actor Shri Anupam Kher, the Oscar-winning maestro Shri M M Keeravani, and the National Award-winning actress Aimee Baruah from Assam, joined by Ravi Kottarakara, President of the Film Federation of India, and the soulful voice of South Korea, MP Jaewon Kim.
Together with the Director General of Doordarshan Shri K. Satish Nambudiripad they gathered to celebrate the magic of cinema. DG Shri Nambudiripad in his opening remarks mentioned, “We all are aware that the lineage channel which is the product of the satellite revolution is slowly giving its way to the digital revolution; handheld devices where people can watch program anytime.
It will only be pertinent for Doordarshan to evolve according to the demand of time. That’s precisely what it has done with entering into the new digital phase with WAVES OTT. The WAVES OTT offers safe, wholesome entertainment for family.”
He continued to urge, “We'll request the youngsters, the generation G, who are glued into the digital devices to come to Doordarshan to see the strength of a legacy that Doordarshan represented or rather represents, to see the programs. Taking the que from him, Shri Kher reminisced on the stage of IFFIESTA, “We all have started our life from Doordarshan.
We are fortunate that it was Doordarshan that introduced us to the world of cinema. I was born because of Doordarshan which I can’t forget. Doordarshan is a fragrance that lingers in our lives, still wrapping us in its embrace.” The night began with a heartfelt rendition of Vande Mataram by Jaewon Kim, her voice a bridge between nations. “I am very happy to be here.
Thank you for the warm welcome. I am sincerely looking forward to movies and content collaboration between India and Korea”, she remarked before singing the song. Later, the evening featured a two-hour performance by singer-songwriter Osho Jain.
What's Next: Three More Nights of Celebrations
The remaining three evenings of IFFIESTA 2025, scheduled for November 22-24, will offer free entry and feature:
Day 2 (November 22) – Hosted by Neetu Chandra and Niharica Raizada
• Battle of Bands featuring The Bandits (India) and Beats of Love (International), hosted by Isha Malviya
• Suron Ka Eklavya segment with Pratibha Singh Baghel and guest performers including Jack Aslam, Supriya Pathak, Rahul Soni, Pratiksha Dekha, and Pickosa Moharkar
• Waah Ustad performance by Vusat Iqbal Khan presenting "Folk & Fusion - Mitti Ki Awaaz"
Day 3 (November 23) – Hosted by Niharica Raizada
• Battle of Bands featuring MH43 (India) and The Swastik (International), hosted by Haarsh Limbachiyaa
• Suron Ka Eklavya with Pratibha Singh Baghel, Pratiksha Deka, Sagar Tiwari, and Supriya Pathak
• Waah Ustad performance presenting "Sufi & Bhakti - Ishq Aur Bhakti Ki Ek Sur"
Day 4 (November 24) – Hosted by Niharica Raizada
• Battle of Bands featuring The Vairagis (India Winners) and Knights, hosted by Hussain Kuwajerwala
• Suron Ka Eklavya with Pratibha Singh Baghel, Jack Aslam, Pickosa Moharkar, and Rahul Soni
• Devanchal ki Prem Katha – Special live showcase featuring Himachali folk dance with cast including Raza Murad, Ather Habib, Kirti Nagpure, Dinesh Vaidya, Milan Singh, and Aditi Shastri
• Waah Ustad finale performance presenting "Raga & Cinema Fusion - Sur Se Cinema Tak"
The Suron Ka Eklavya segment is curated by Gajendra Singh, while the Waah Ustad segment is presented by Dilli Gharana. Special guest singers are presented by Saregama.
All four evenings are being broadcast live on DD Bharati and streamed on WAVES OTT, with special highlights on DD National.
Event Details:
• Dates: November 21-24, 2025
• Venue: Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Goa
• Timings: 6:00 PM onwards daily (Gates open at 5:00 PM)
• Entry: FREE for November 22-24 performances
• Live Coverage: DD Bharati, WAVES OTT, DD National (highlights)