Mysore/Mysuru: District Minister S.T. Somashekar inaugurated the Dasara Film Festival yesterday at a programme organised by the District Administration at Kalamandira in city yesterday. However, Hat-trick Hero Shivarajkumar, who was expected to attend, could not attend the programme.

Speaking later, Somashekar said that the Film Festival is a great opportunity for film buffs to watch several movies.

“One day is exclusively reserved to screen Dr. Puneeth Rajkumar’s movies as a tribute to the late actor. ‘Appu Namana’ programme is also organised at Yuva Dasara. Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar will attend this programme,” he said.

Stating that Dasara festivities were celebrated in a low-key manner for the past two years owing to COVID pandemic, the Minister said that this year the District Administration is all set to celebrate Dasara in a grand manner and 124-km of roads across the city are being illuminated this year.

Actor Anu Prabhakar Mukherjee, who was one of the celebrity guests of the programme, recalled the day when she along with Parvathamma Rajkumar and actor M.P. Shankar inaugurated the Dasara Film Festival in 2007. “I am happy to be a part of this programme after 15 years. Puneeth Rajkumar will remain in our hearts forever. He will remain in the memory of each and every Kannadiga. Screening Puneeth’s movie a whole day is something to be remembered always. At the same time actor Sanchari Vijay is also remembered by screening his movies,” she added.

Somashekar released the Film Festival brochure on the occasion while Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited (MPVL) Chairman Raghu R. Kautilya read short poems written on Puneeth Rajkumar.

Actors Kavya Shetty and Amruta Iyengar were among the celebrity guests. MLA L. Nagendra, Mayor Shivakumar, Deputy Mayor Dr. G. Roopa, BJP District President Mangala Somashekar, City BJP President T.S. Srivatsa, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr. Bagadi Gautham, Additional DC Dr. B.R. Manjunathaswamy, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) B.M. Harish, Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) Chairman M. Shivakumar, Office-bearers of Dasara Film Sub-Committee and others were present at the programme.

The Film Festival, which was inaugurated yesterday, will last on Oct. 3. A total of 112 movies including 56 Kannada, 28 Panorama, 28 International Award winning films will be screened at three screens of INOX and one screen of DRC. The tickets are priced at Rs. 300 for students and Rs. 500 for general public.

Besides, Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar will watch Bettada Hoovu film (starring Puneeth Rajkumar as child artiste) with Mysuru’s Shaktidhama inmates at INOX on Sept. 28 at 9.30 am.