The latest to happen event in Goa the next week round is the 38th International Film Festival of India (since Goa became its now permanent destination in 2004) from 23 November, 2007 to 3rd December, 2007.
This writer visited the venue on 17th November, 2007 evening and noted the enthusiam with which the works are being carried out by an array of workmen round the clock of the nearly Rs;1,73,95,782 works of restoration and refurbishment of the Old Food and Drugs Administration Bldg and the Maquinez Palace. This premise is being put to adaptive re-use for the state of art media centre theatres and offices for International Film Festival of India 2007 (the first one was held in 2004 in Goa ) of the Entertainment Society of Goa and the Directorate of Films Festival. After this festival the Old heritage complex is also being vacated and put into adaptive reuse for purposes which the general public have been called to advice the Goa Government. The works are moving at an expected pace and will be in place for the inuagural ceremony on 23rd November, 2007 said an official from New Delhi DFF who spoke to this writer. The twenty thousand square metres of land of the erstwhile "Escola Medico Cirurgica de Nova Goa" 1842 (rechristened in 1963 the Goa Medical College) is the oldest modern medicine institution in Asia. Following the phased relocation of the Goa Medical College Hospital to Bambolim since 1996, the premises was grnted a fresh lease of life following extensive renovations in 2004, thus the Old G.M.C building (or now the Heritage complex has been functioning as the administrative office for the International Film Festival of India, besides administrative offices of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) and the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF). The movie multiplex INOX the Maquinez Palace where the Old Food and Drugs Administration office was located (now shifted to Altinho) and the Chapel of Our lady of Victory a courtyard in front of the INOX a proportionate parking lot where vehicle owners are permitted to park "at their own risk" a signage indicates that prominently. When this writer ventured into the Chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Victory (or Victoria?) the Sacristian Mr Gregorio Tavares was celebrating his 75th birthday, with some close family members. He was an attendant in the Post Mortem ward and retired at the age of superannuation 60 years. The Chapel has been left out of the restoration works though it is being put to use by the Market vendors. There are Masses held at 7.30 a.m. and on First Fridays of the month in the afternoons 1245 hrs. According to Mr Tavares there were attempts to bring down this chapel before the 2004 IFFI but protests from local market vendors (who infact sustain the maintainence of the Chapel) averted this dastardly human act. What is surprising is that though the Chapel being a part of the Maquinez Palace will be visited by almost all the media persons and the foreign dignitaries but yet the Government did not find it proper to give it a touch up. It is not late for the Government to do its bit said Mr Tavares who is paid a paltry sum of Rs 1000 to look after the Chapel. A committee consisting of Dr Rufino Monteiro of Miramar and others oversee the activities it is learnt. The Archdiocese of Goa and Daman could also send a missive to the Government and the Archaeological Survey of India to do their bit. According to some market vendors who spoke to this writer outside the Chapel the Government seems to be determined to wipe out all pre-Liberation era structures as they consider the 451 years of Portuguese era as an "aberration on the Indian culture". There seems to be some merit in this fear even with the present dispensation ruling the State. Meanwhile the opening with Don Shahrukh Khan as the celebrated film star of Bollywood and of his latest film "Om Shanti Om". The winning film at the Cannes Festival 2007 "4 mois 3 seminaies 2 jours" will be featured at the inaugural. The awards Golden Peacock Rs 10 lacs and Silver Peacock Rs. 5 lacs go to the films from feature films from Asia Africa and Latin America This year there will be no "carnaval extravaganza" but serious film activities concerning film professionals businessman and movie goers. Unless the anti SEZ deadline adopts a violent turn after 20th November, 2007 this IFFI may have less hiccups and not end in a jiffy. GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES, BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA) +91 98221 58584 (24 HRS) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Why delete messages? Unlimited storage is just a click away. Go to http://help.yahoo.com/l/in/yahoo/mail/yahoomail/tools/tools-08.html