IFFI runs Gulzar pic for Ray, rectifies gaffe soon after

In what can only be described as an embarrassing gaffe, the official website of International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa, published a photo of renowned poet-lyricist Gulzar alongside a synopsis describing Oscar-winning Late filmmaker Satyajit Ray. After initial news reports emerged, festival authorities quickly rectified the error on the official IFFI website.

However, an error of this magnitude shocked film buffs across the country, especially coming on the webpage of one of the biggest film festivals of Asia.

Even today, most film festivals in India remain incomplete without a reference to Ray, counted among the world's cinema auteurs. The goof-up is all the more embarrassing because this is the golden jubilee year of IFFI. In its 50th year, IFFI has paid homage to the legendary Ray by screening his 1989 Bengali classic "Ganashatru", starring Soumitra Chatterjee.

The error appeared in a website catalogue listing all the films being screened at IFFI this year. In this list, along with a cast and crew description of "Ganashatru" and a synopsis on Ray, the organisers published a photo of Gulzar instead of Ray.

However, as news reports started emerging, mistake was quickly corrected.

IFFI Goa commenced on November 20 and concludes on the 28th of this month.

Tags: Cinema, Showbiz, Bollywood