Sparkling start with melodious end what else one can desire for. All these years from first year to tenth year a spectacular week with unforgettable moments in the history of Norway, Bollywood festival has left there everlasting memories for years to remember.

Looking back to the most exciting and historically record breaking, eight days event of the 10th Bollywood festival, one can deduced the fact and draw a pleasant satisfaction that, the festival was a great success.

Almost fifty dignitaries from all over the world and several high profile artists from Indian Cinema created a memorable history in the Bollywood landscape of Norway. It’s a far away from the days when this festival was started a low key few day’s long Bollywood festival.

But this year saw an amazing development in the qualitative as well as the quantitative expansion of the festival..

On the morning of the opening day we held the press conference at the Thon hotel, in Lørenskog. Hema Malini ji, her daughter Esha, Ahana Deol, and the festival director Nasrullah Qureshi held the brief press session, followed by a visit to the Norwegian Parliament where Hema Malini was invited for Lunch.

The festival opening ceremony was marked by the red carpet welcome of the guests. A postal stamp was thus issued by the Postal authorities as a gesture of salutation to Indian Cinemas 100 years and arrival of Indian Cinemas Dream girl Hema Malini to the 10th Anniversary of Bollywood festival Norway. This was presented on Friday 7th September when the official opening of the festival done by Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway at Lørenskog Cinema. It came as a surprise to Hema Malini when Festival Director Nasrullah Qureshi along with film producer Mr Ratan Jain and Mr Vikas Mohan unveil the poster of the stamp for her that prompted an automatic response and a standing ovation was ensued in the auditorium. She was very much touched and pleased on this moment , Nasrullah Qureshi gave her more than 200 stamps for her personal use and the rest of stamps been sold at the festival to many families from India and Pakistan.

First time an Indian film star was honored by a foreign country’s postal stamp. The evening preceded with the mesmerizing live dance performances by the local Norwegian Folk dance, Ballet& Bollywood, Studio No1 and Aasma dancers from Indian dancers. The opening evening host Shan & Lovleen where amazing. Award felicitation followed by Hema Malini getting biggest honour of her life time. Then finally Hema Malini directorial film starring Esha Deol “ Tell me o Khuda” kicked off the screenings session and thus concluded the evening. 

The highlight of the festival was the stupendous Classical Odissi and Bharatnatyam dance show  performed by Hema Malini, her two daughters Esha and Ahana Deol, and twenty dancers, that the festival specially flown in from India. The show was held at the Oslo's prestigious Concert House. Norwegians have never seen anything like that,.Hema Malini got almost 5 minutes standing ovation at the show.  

A comprehensive schedule of screenings took place over the next seven days, new films got premièred and an intense debate got underway in a much focused way to raise the flag of the Indian Cinema on the global Cinema platform. Bollywood Stars such as Ila Arun, Actor KK Raina, Vipin Sharma and Siraj Zaidi conducted acting workshops, director Kanchan Ghosh, and renowned comic writer and publisher Mr Harvinder Mankkar attended the film festival.

The Bollywood festival Norway is known as a giant platform for films and dance; it has every year impressive and explosive performances on its opening night. The festival opening film was Tell me O Khuda and closing film was Barfi. Festival showcased more than 30 films in the program. The festival hosted numerous guests from India and all over Europe.

There was seminar on a sensitive issue as GIRLS ARE EQUAL WORTH followed by Oscar-winning film “Saving Face” is a 2012 documentary film about acid attacks on women. The seminar was attended by the dignitaries from worldwide to name few Leslie Udwin Producer West is West, Ajit Rai, Mia Michelle F Hoel, Tayab Choudry Harvinder Mankkar and Ila Arun.

A Ghazal night was organized in order to give a Tribute to Kings of Ghazal Mehdi Hassan and Jagjit Singh. And finally Miss Pooja the dynamic Punjabi singer closed the film festival with her powerful voice by making everyone dancing on her melodious songs.

Well, the 10th Bollywood Festival of Norway celebrates 100 years of Indian cinema in a special way by presenting a basket of variety of entertainment. Festival also showcased some classical Indian films. They say nothing succeeds like success; it was great to be part of the10th Bollywood Festival of Norway as these 8 days were full of knowledge and entertainment. Many thanks to festival team and friends in Indian film Industry Mumbai. We are looking forward to next year festival, with big stars and many good films.