Bhagyaraj earned the title “King of Screenplay” for his unique storytelling style and outstanding screenwriting skills. He directed, wrote, and acted in many successful Tamil films during a career that lasted nearly five decades. His family dramas and relatable characters won the hearts of millions.

Many film personalities and political leaders paid tribute to the legendary filmmaker. Fans gathered to offer their final respects and shared emotional messages on social media. The Tamil film industry remembered him as one of its finest creative minds.

Bhagyaraj leaves behind a remarkable legacy that inspired generations of filmmakers and writers. His contribution to Indian cinema will continue to influence storytelling for years to come.

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Earlier, the makers released “Rai Rai Raa Raa,” the intro song of Ram Charan. The energetic track has been composed and sung by Rahman. The song delivers pulsating beats and a strong mass appeal. Ram Charan’s performance adds power and style to the visuals.

The choreography has been handled by Jani Master. Lyrics were written by Anantha Sriram. Production design by Avinash Kolla and cinematography by R. Rathnavelu enhance the grandeur of the song.

The film is produced by Vriddhi Cinemas and presented by Mythri Movie Makers. Janhvi Kapoor, Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, Divyendu Sharma, and Boman Irani play key roles. Editing is handled by Navin Nooli.

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The shortlisted films represent countries such as Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland and several others. The Academy shared the update through its official social media handle, highlighting the global spread of the selected films.

The final nominations for the Academy Awards will be announced on January 22. Until then, Homebound continues to carry India’s hopes on the world’s biggest cinema stage.

Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, the film has already earned strong international acclaim with premieres at the Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival. With this shortlist, Homebound becomes only the fifth Indian film to reach this stage in the Academy Awards’ 98-year history.

Starring Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, the film tells the story of two childhood friends chasing their dream of joining the police force, while Janhvi Kapoor adds emotional depth. Produced by Karan Johar and others, the film marks a proud moment for Indian cinema.

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Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma said Rajasthan’s deserts, forts, palaces, and landscapes already enjoy global recognition. He added that the policy will help create jobs, build skills among youth, and promote local culture through cinema. The government expects the policy to boost tourism and strengthen the creative economy.

Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari said the policy focuses on ease of doing business. Filmmakers will receive administrative support alongside subsidies, allowing projects to move faster without delays.

The policy offers up to 30 percent subsidy on eligible production खर्च. Feature films can receive incentives up to ₹3 crore, web series up to ₹2 crore, TV serials up to ₹1.5 crore, and documentaries up to ₹2 crore. Producers must spend a minimum amount within Rajasthan to qualify.

Additional benefits link subsidies to screen time and shooting days in the state. Films shot entirely in Rajasthan receive extra incentives. Shooting at government locations can be free for up to five days.

The policy also supports students with scholarships at leading film institutes and plans a single online portal for locations and industry professionals.

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The Vietnamese film Skin of Youth, directed by Ash Mayfair, earned the top honour for its emotional story of love, identity, and struggle in 1990s Saigon. The film explores the relationship between San, a transgender sex worker, and Nam, a cage fighter, as they fight social pressure and personal battles. The audience and jury praised its strong storytelling.

The awards night also celebrated other powerful works. Marathi filmmaker Santosh Davakhar won Best Director for Gondhal. My Daughter’s Hair and Fränk shared the Silver Peacock for Best Debut Feature Film. Performances by Jara Sofija Ostan and Ubeimar Rios won top acting honours.

The festival also honoured legendary actor Rajinikanth for completing 50 years in cinema. He thanked his fans and said their love keeps him inspired.

IFFI 2025 highlighted fresh voices, global themes, and innovative filmmaking, showing how cinema continues to grow across cultures.

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Mishra shared that Odisha has very few functional cinema halls, forcing filmmakers to release movies in villages and temporary screening locations. He recalled how his film Mindgame had to be shown in venues without fans or air conditioning, yet audiences still watched enthusiastically. He said this shows the strength of Odia storytelling, but the lack of infrastructure holds the industry back.

Mishra added that Odisha has many talented actors, directors, and technicians, but they struggle to reach national and global platforms due to limited support and distribution options. He urged well-known artists like Aamir Khan to encourage independent filmmakers so that regional cinema can grow.

Aamir Khan responded positively. He said the Government of India is examining the issue seriously and believes that building more theatres across all states will greatly boost Indian cinema.

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Chief Minister Pramod Sawant launched the ceremony at the Old GMC precinct and shared his vision of turning Goa into an international film production hub. He said that Goa offers natural beauty, strong infrastructure, and quick licensing that already attract filmmakers from around the world. He added that the State will revive its film promotion scheme to support producers and boost creativity.

Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan praised IFFI for strengthening India’s creative economy. He said the festival gives new opportunities to content, culture, and talent.

The event brought together Governor Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Union Minister Shripad Naik, Festival Director Shekhar Kapur, and several film personalities. Veteran actor N Balakrishnan received warm applause for completing 50 years in cinema.

Actor Anupam Kher admired the cultural parade and said it captured the heart of the festival. With screenings and discussions ahead, IFFI 2025 begins with Goan colours and promises a celebration of global cinema.

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Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the parade gives the festival a warm and inclusive beginning. Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Goa presented tableaus that highlighted their culture, cinema and landscapes. In addition, major production houses joined the event and added more artistic energy to the celebration.

This year, IFFI 2025 will screen over 240 films from 81 countries. The lineup includes 13 world premieres, 4 international premieres and 46 Asian premieres. Moreover, Japan is the Country of Focus, while Spain and Australia join as partner nations with special curated film packages.

Information and Broadcasting Minister L. Murugan stated that the festival received a record 3,400 film submissions from 127 countries. As a result, more than 270 films will be screened, showing India’s growing presence in global cinema.

The festival opened with The Blue Trail by Gabriel Mascaro. Along with this, tributes, competitions, gala premieres and a special honour for Rajinikanth will continue until November 28.

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In a message on X, Stalin said the award “doubles our joy.” He recalled that Tharani had gifted a portrait of Thanthai Periyar, now displayed at Oxford University. The Chief Minister said this honour places Tharani among India’s most respected artists.

Thota Tharani will receive the award from the French Ambassador at the Alliance Française in Chennai on November 13. He is the sixth Indian to earn the Chevalier Award, joining legends like Satyajit Ray, Sivaji Ganesan, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Kamal Haasan.

The veteran artist has worked with directors Mani Ratnam and Shankar on acclaimed films like Nayakan, Thalapathi, Ponniyin Selvan, and Sivaji. He has received two National Awards, multiple state honours, and the Padma Shri in 2001. Tharani’s creativity continues to define the visual identity of Indian cinema.

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The superstar posted on social media, apologizing to fans who waited for hours. “Authorities have advised me not to step out for everyone’s safety due to crowd control issues,” he wrote. Fans from across India had arrived in large numbers, creating a security challenge for the police and SRK’s team.

To make it up to his admirers, Shah Rukh organized a closed-door fan meet in Mumbai. Dressed in a grey beanie and glasses, he interacted warmly with fans and later shared a video on Instagram. “Thank you for making my birthday special. I’ll see you soon in theatres,” he captioned.

After the event, SRK briefly came outside to wave to the crowd. However, when fans tried to get closer, chaos erupted. Security officials swiftly intervened and escorted the actor away to ensure safety.

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