The festival aims at strengthening the bilateral relations between both the countries, entailing a bouquet of events ranging from film screenings, cultural performances, master classes by the celebrities and Indian Independence Day celebrations
Our Bureau
Ho Chi Minh City
Well-known Bollywood actor Anupam Kher and award-winning filmmaker-actor Rahul Mittra opened the second edition of the coveted Namaste Vietnam Festival at a packed auditorium in the iconic Hoa Binh Theatre, Ho Chi Minh City’s biggest performing arts venue over the weekend.
Organised by the Embassy of India in Vietnam & the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City under the aegis of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, this mega festival of India is being held in Vietnam till August 20th.
Rahul Mittra & Anupam Kher addressed the 2,000 strong audience comprising of top Vietnamese government functionaries & diplomats, leading local media persons, Indian Consul General Dr Madan Mohan Sethi, the festival curator Captain Rahul Bali, singer Alisha Chinai, actresses Avika Gor & Helly Shah, directors Rahat Kazmi & Abhishek Jain, prominent Indians & expats in large numbers, as the celebrities were awarded for their contribution to cinema amidst rousing applause from the crowds at the grand opening ceremony.
Further to the announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where he reiterated the importance of Vietnam as the key to India’s Act East policy, this festival is aimed at strengthening the bilateral relations between both countries, entailing a bouquet of events ranging from film screenings, cultural performances, master classes by the celebrities, Indian Independence Day celebrations, seminars & conferences in order to generate a euphoria about India in Vietnam. The festival will also have the first ever world premiere of a Hindi film in Vietnam with Anupam Kher’s The signature.
Filmmaker-actor & branding specialist Rahul Mittra had led the first ever Indian film delegation to Vietnam in 2015, followed by one last year which was a roaring success, paving the way for enhanced cultural exchange & friendly ties between both counties.
