Kamal Hassan Thanks I & B Ministry-FICCI

Prior to leaving the Cannes Film Festival and returning to India to finish work on Vishwaroopam 2, Kamal thanked the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and FICCI. "It is important that the filmmakers of today find the right people to connect with," he said. "And so it is a great initiative on part of the Ministry of I&B and FICCI to develop the programme of the India Pavilion in such a way that many important international names in the film business have been coming to the pavilion - providing Indian filmmakers and delegates at Cannes the rare opportunity to interact with them."

Kamal Hassan added, "The international community too will benefit from the wealth of knowledge about the Indian film sector that will be at their disposal. Thanks to these interactive panel discussions, these one-on-one meetings, and from the India Film Guide, which contains all sector-relevant information for Indian cinema today. As an Indian filmmaker, I am proud to have been part of this wonderful endeavour by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in making the India Pavilion at Cannes a hub of networking, business and informative interactions to promote partnerships between the Indian film fraternity and the global one. I am happy to know that going forward Indian filmmakers will have the support of the government in pushing forward their business and creative ventures."

Organized by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the India Pavilion was inaugurated on 15th May by His Excellency Arun K Singh, Indian Ambassador to France; Shri Bimal Julka, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India; veteran filmmaker and producer Ramesh Sippy; renowned filmmaker Sudhir Mishra; Uday Chopra, actor, producer, and CEO, YRF Entertainment; screenwriter Arash Amel; Jerome Paillard, Executive Director, Cannes Film Market; Dr A. Didar Singh, Secretary General, FICCI; filmmaker and producer Bobby Bedi; and Dr Kamal Hassan, who led the Indian film industry delegation at Cannes this year.