Grammy-nominated devotional singer Acyuta Gopi will headline the cultural programme at the closing ceremony of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on Friday, November 28. The New York-based artist, celebrated globally for her kirtan tracks like ‘Radhe Govinda’ and ‘Lagan Tumse Laga Baithe’, will present a specially curated act for the festival finale in Panaji, Goa.
Sanjay Jaju, Secretary in the Information & Broadcasting Ministry, confirmed that Gopi was a natural choice for the cultural showcase, citing the growing interest of young audiences in spiritual and devotional music.
“As part of the cultural programme for IFFI’s closing ceremony, we felt it fitting to invite Acyuta Gopi, whose Krishna bhajans have a unique way of bringing communities together. I am confident her performance will offer audiences a refreshing and memorable experience,” Jaju said in a statement.
Gopi will also feature in a special showcase for WAVES OTT (Prasar Bharati’s streaming platform), where she will perform alongside select winners from last year’s Create India Challenge.
Yesterday at IFFI 2025, the focus shifted to cinematic storytelling from the margins, with a press interaction featuring the makers of two powerful international films, ‘Forensics’ (Colombia) and ‘Ku Handza’ (Mozambique). Both films offered a masterclass on framing memory, resilience, and survival through art.
Federico Atehortúa Arteaga’s bold, experimental film ‘Forensics’ explores Colombia’s turbulent history and the scars left by disappearances. The film threads together three distinct narratives:
- A female director reconstructing the life of a deceased transgender woman.
- The filmmaker’s own family grappling with a missing relative.
- The testimony of forensic pathologist Karen Quintero.
Federico spoke passionately about the real-life connection driving his work: “Everyone in the country knows someone who has gone missing… It’s humbling to see a story reach people in such a deep way.” He noted that the film became a platform for those searching for the disappeared to find a sense of solidarity.
Across the globe, the film ‘Ku Handza’, produced by Jacinta Maria De Barros Da Mota Pinto and Rui César De Oliveira Simões, captures a different reality—the resilience and everyday heroism of Mozambican life. The film follows ordinary people navigating extraordinary circumstances:
- Benjamin scrambling to fund his son’s birthday.
- Filimone balancing family and wartime duties.
- Eulália returning to work at a landfill just days after giving birth.
Producer Jacinta explained that the film’s authenticity stems from its cast, who are not professional actors but real lives woven into the narrative. “We wanted to portray these lives honestly, as if we were one among them,” she said.
While ‘Forensics’ unpacks political turmoil and grief, ‘Ku Handza’ captures the quiet strength and humanity of Mozambican survival, with both films converging in their powerful ability to give voice to the unheard.
Key Highlights:
- Grammy-nominated devotional singer Acyuta Gopi will be the headline performer at the cultural programme for the IFFI 2025 closing ceremony on Friday, November 28.
- I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju noted Gopi was chosen for her ability to bring communities together through Krishna bhajans, aligning with the growing interest of young audiences in spiritual music.
- Separately, IFFI showcased two powerful international films: Colombia’s ‘Forensics’, which explores memory and political disappearances, and Mozambique’s ‘Ku Handza’, which captures everyday heroism and resilience through non-actor subjects.
- Both films highlighted the power of cinema to give voice to the unheard, reflecting on personal loss (Colombia) and economic survival (Mozambique).