The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was started in our state by late chief minister Manohar Parrikar in 2004 in the name of bringing long-term development and with the tall promise of giving guaranteed benefits for all upcoming Goan film makers, actors, musicians, artisans through this festival in Goa. Unfortunately, nothing of that sort has happened as no one has really benefited in any way and we Goans are still where we are right from 2004 till date. The city of Panaji itself practically turns into a most chaotic city with traffic congestion on account of food stalls put up and open-air stage programmes being held in the evenings right across the Mandovi river-side area and with that extra pile up of tonnes of garbage generated due to this festival every year. I therefore feel that this festival has only helped all the discarded Bollywood/South Indian filmi producers/directors and actors to come on a holiday every year and enjoy to the fullest at our tax payers' money in Goa. It has also helped politicians from our respective ruling governments to make some quick bucks by giving contracts for their own close contacts.
