THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Renowned Bollywood actor Nana Patekar made headlines at the International Film Festival of Kerala, sharing his desire to act in Malayalam cinema after five decades in the industry. Despite a notable career, Patekar expressed surprise at never receiving an invitation from a Malayalam director until now.

During the festival, Patekar serving as the chief guest showcased his enthusiasm by discussing potential roles in two upcoming Malayalam films—one directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan and the other by Ranjith. Despite being in Kerala for prior shooting schedules, Patekar had not been approached for a Malayalam project until this event.

Expressing his eagerness to break language barriers in acting, Patekar shared his sentiments in Malayalam calling it the language of love. His interaction with Adoor Gopalakrishnan was transformative, as Patekar requested a role in the director's next film which Adoor graciously accepted.

Similarly, Rasul Pookutty, an Oscar-winning sound designer invited as a guest at the festival expressed his desire for a prominent role in a Malayalam movie which received positive affirmation.

The festival also saw international recognition, with Kenyan director Vanuri Kahiuvi, recipient of the 'Spirit of Cinema Award,' praising Kerala's inclusive environment and emphasizing the freedom filmmakers experience here, free from bans or censorship.

The Festival Catalogue was unveiled by VK Prashanth MLA while cultural luminaries such as Chairman Madhupal and Zilla Panchayat President Adv D Suresh Kumar were present at the event. The I.F.F.K daily bulletin was released by Cultural Affairs Director N Maya and the Academy Journal Festival of Film Review was presented by Rasool Pookutty to Chalachitra Academy Vice Chairman Premkumar.

Moreover, the International Competition introduced packages initiated by Festival Curator Golda Sellam and prominent personalities like Portuguese Constitution Rita Acevedo Gomez, Latin American Curator Fernando Brunner, and others from the film fraternity.