A delegation of the Indian film industry will leave tonight (11th August) for Vietnam for the first ever Namaste Vietnam Festival to be held in Ho Chi Minh city and Nha Trang to mark 75 years of Indian Independence. The festival will be held from August 12 to 21.
The 10-day festival has been planned in accordance with India’s ‘Act East’ policy. It will also mark 50 years of diplomatic ties between the countries. Several celebrities will attend the festival. Among those who will walk the red carpet at the majestic Independence Palace in Ho Chi Minh City for the opening of the festival on August 13 will be renowned filmmakers Rahul Mittra, Rahul Rawail, Rumy Jafry, Kumar Mangat, Umesh Shukla, Shree Narayan Singh, Mikhil Musale, Rajesh Mapuskar, Chandrakant Singh, Kiran Kumar Koneru and Nitin Tej Ahuja along with actors Randhir Kapoor, Raima Sen, Avika Gor, Soma Laishram, Himakshi Kalita and Sulakhyana Baruah, and your editor and film trade analyst Komal Nahta. Top actors and filmmakers of Vietnam, including Miss Universe Vietnam 2021 Nguyễn Thi Thanh Khoa and Miss Universe Vietnam 2022 Nguyễn Thi Ngoc Chau, will also be present at the festival.
Indian ambassador Pranay Verma and Consul General of India Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi will host the 10-day mega festival, curated by Captain Rahul Bali. The festival will be a confluence of culture and commerce and is expected to be a great networking platform to foster dialogue for bilateral relations between both the countries to boost tourism, trade, art, culture, music and films.
“Vietnam has been on the bucket list of a lot of people, and when Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced that Vietnam is the key to the Act East policy, we thought of a full-scale festival of India in Vietnam,” award-winning filmmaker, branding specialist and actor Rahul Mittra, who is leading the delegation, told Information. He added, “Among all forms of diplomacy, I feel that cultural diplomacy is the most effective, and there’s no bigger soft power than Indian cinema.”
Detailing the events, Mittra elaborated, “We will be hosted at the India House, the Consul General’s home, on the first day, followed by the opening on the next day at one of the most majestic and iconic buildings in Ho Chi Minh City which will have, among other things, a cultural programme highlighting the rich diversity of India. This will be followed by a fusion fashion show by Indian and Vietnamese designers. We will also visit important locations which may be used by producers for shootings in the future. On August 15, we shall participate in the Independence Day function.”