Muscat Film festival: A tribute to 007 flicks

The presence of Oscar-winning Hollywood stars as well as top Bollywood personalities will take the Muscat International Film Festival (MIFF) to a different level this weekend. Three Academy Award winners — Forest Whitaker, Susan Sarandon and Darren Aronofsky — are coming for the seventh edition of the film festival, which turns international from this year and runs from March 24-31. "This is the 50th anniversary of James Bond films, so we have decided to pay tribute to the character," MIFF chairman Khalid Al Zedjali said. Former Bond Sir Roger Moore has accepted an invitation to attend the MIFF. However, the organisers are keeping their fingers crossed as the English star is unwell. "He would attend only if he recovers from his illness," Al Zedjali said. One-film Australian Bond star George Lazenby is confirmed for the Bond tribute along with five-time Bond director John Glen (For Your Eyes Only, The Living Daylights, A View to a Kill, Octopussy and License to Kill) and The Man With The Golden Gun Bond girl Britt Ekland. Also joining the Hollywood stars is the Lord of the Rings actor Billy Boyd. While the Bond cast and crew will pay tribute to the legendary character created by Ian Fleming, Bollywood will make its presence felt with a screening of its own spy flick, Agent Vinod. The stars of the film — Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor — will attend with Kapoor's elder sister, actress Karishma Kapoor. "The premiere will be held at two venues on March 25," Al Zedjali said. The other stars from Indian cinema to walk the red carpet will be Sharmila Tagore, Nandita Das, Victor Banerjee and Dhanush, who made headlines with his song Kolaveri Di. The opening and closing of the MIFF will see performances by entertainers from different parts of the world. Nancy Ajram will sing during the opening ceremony at the Sultan Qaboos University, alongside Omani singer Saleh Zedjali. Sivamani, an Indian percussionist, will display his skills with the drums and other instruments. Isha Sharvani, who has performed earlier in Muscat, will showcase her dexterity on ropes with her team for the opening night. Billy Ban Ban, Lucky Ali, flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and Ramli Ibrahim will perform during the closing.