You can watch award winning Indian films Uri: The Surgical Strike and Major at the Life Cinema Nakasi for free as the Indian Film Festival has officially launched.
The festival opened with a screening of The Vaccine War, directed by Vivek Agnihotri, which stars Nana Patekar and Pallavi Joshi and is based on India’s race to independently develop a COVID-19 vaccine.
While speaking at the launch, Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran says India’s rich cinematic tradition, celebrated worldwide, offers a unique opportunity for countries like Fiji to strengthen people‑to‑people ties, explore creative partnerships, and expand our cultural horizons.
Kiran says in Fiji, people of all ethnicities, cultures and traditions have grown with Hindi cinema.
She says many of our Itaukei brothers and sisters have picked up the Hindi language and songs from Hindi movies for the last 3 generations.
Kiran also says The Vaccine War is the story of vaccines produced by India during COVID pandemic and shared across the World.
She says Fiji also benefitted from the vaccines donated by India.
The Minister says they are very thankful that partnership in medical sector has been strengthened as we look forward to 100 bed specialty hospital that will be built as well as partnership in pharmacopeia as well as traditional medicines.
Speaking to fijivillage News, she also highlighted strong opportunities for collaboration between Fiji and India, noting that Fijians such as Sumeet Tappoo have already found success in Bollywood.
Kiran says with emerging local filmmakers, Fiji has significant potential for creative exchange and learning.
She also stressed Fiji’s appeal as a tourism and filming destination, with its natural beauty and culture comparable to locations often used in Bollywood productions like Switzerland and Mauritius.
Indian High Commissioner to Fiji, Suneet Mehta says this festival stands as a tribute to the deep rooted cultural bond between India and Fiji nurtured over generations through shared traditions, values and universal language of cinema.
He says this year's festival has been thoughtfully planned to reach wider audiences with screenings, not only in Suva but also in Nadi and Lautoka in the successive weeks, allowing more communities to participate in and celebrate the richness of Indian cinema.
Mehta says Fiji has always had a special place in the heart for Indian cinema as generations of Fijians of Indian origin have grown up watching legendary films and admiring iconic stars.
The High Commissioner says it is heartening to see the Fijian communities embracing Bollywood cinema, learning the phrases, singing popular songs and enjoying them at concerts and personal celebrations.
Mehta adds it is a true testament to the power of art and the films in bringing our communities together.
Meanwhile, you can watch Uri today and Major tomorrow, at 6pm.
