Telugu Film Industry Celebrated as International Film Festival of India Gets Off to Goan Carnival Start

India’s vibrant Telugu-language film industry, known to the western world for Oscar winner “RRR,” was a dominant presence at the inauguration of the 56th International Film Festival of India in Goa.

This year, the event eschewed the normal launch in an indoor stadium in favor of a carnival parade, which Goa is famous for. After a formal inauguration by dignitaries including Indian Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Goa Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju, attended by Telugu cinema star Nandamuri Balakrishna, festival director Shekhar Kapur and thespian Anupam Kher, it was time for the parade.

The carnival parade began with folk music and dances showcasing the rich and vast diversity of India, and then it was all about the tableau floats. The state of Goa and its film industry were represented with several floats, as was one dedicated to the centenary of Indian auteur Guru Dutt and another depicting Indian horror cinema.

There was a float depicting 50 years of India’s National Film Development Corporation and another showcasing the northern Indian state of Haryana as a filming location. Prominent films set in Haryana include Aamir Khan’s “Dangal” and Salman Khan’s “Sultan.”

Indian animation was acknowledged with floats featuring popular characters Chhota Bheem, Motu and Patlu. There was a float featuring Hombale Films, producers of the “Kantara” and “K.G.F” franchises, and another highlighting prominent indie studio Platoon One, whose “Bindusagar” is world premiering at IFFI.

But it was Telugu-language cinema that was the cynosure of all eyes. A float featuring “Akhanda 2: Thaandavam,” the sequel to Balakrishna’s cult hit, drew gasps, as did one depicting “RRR” star Ram Charan‘s upcoming “Peddi.” Prominent Telugu cinema production company Mythri Movie Makers also had a dedicated float. However the piece-de-resistance was a float featuring the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, which included models of N.T. Rama Rao as Krishna and Prabhas as Baahubali. Lookalikes of current and former Telugu cinema stars walked ahead of the Andhra Pradesh float, obliging the massed ranks of fans with selfies.

The festival kicked off in earnest with the screening of opening night film, “The Blue Trail” by Gabriel Mascaro.

IFFI runs through Nov. 28 and concurrent film market, WAVES Film Bazaar, through Nov. 24.