By Mewati Sitaram
The much-awaited Indian Film Fest 2025 was officially inaugurated on January 6th at PVR Cinemas, Colombo, by Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, alongside H.E. Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka. The festival commenced with the screening of the Bollywood blockbuster ’83’, a film that portrays India’s victorious 1983 Cricket World Cup campaign. The screening was attended by hundreds of moviegoers, with a special presence from 1996 Sri Lanka Cricket legends as guests of honor.
Minister Gamage expressed admiration for India’s thriving film industry, highlighting sports-related films as a significant part of its global influence. Meanwhile, High Commissioner Jha emphasized the festival’s role in fostering deeper people-to-people connections between India and Sri Lanka. The Indian Film Fest 2025 is one of the first initiatives of 2025, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties through cultural exchanges. The festival will run across various cities in Sri Lanka, including Colombo, Badulla, Jaffna, Galle, Kurunegala, Matale, Matara, Monaragala, and Nuwara Eliya, from January 6th to 10th.
On the second day of the festival, Monaragala became the focal point of the celebration with the screening of ‘Amma Kanakku’, ‘Vikram’, and ‘Jai Bhim’ at the Monaragala District Library Auditorium. The event was graced by the Governor of Uva Province, Hon. J.M. Kapila Jayasekara, and India’s Consul General Shri Harvinder Singh, who also inaugurated a Bharat Corner at the library. Additionally, a free Ayurveda Medical Camp was organized for the local community, further promoting cultural and healthcare exchange.
In Colombo, the festival continues with multiple screenings, including ‘RRR’, ‘Aatam’, ‘Thinking of Him’, and ‘Reva’. Film enthusiasts in Colombo can avail themselves of free tickets by contacting the festival organizers via email. For detailed information on screenings and ticket availability, refer to the attached brochure and email dir.icc.colombo@gmail.com.
The Indian Film Fest 2025 is a grand celebration of India’s cinematic excellence and offers Sri Lankans a unique opportunity to explore the diverse narratives of Indian cinema while deepening cultural ties between the two nations.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
