Srinagar, Sep 10 (PTI) The inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) drew to a close with an electrifying finale as legendary pop and playback icon Usha Uthup took the stage, bringing the four-day cinematic gathering to an unforgettable crescendo.
The veteran songstress commanded the closing ceremony with boundless energy.
Moving fluidly between Hindi film anthems, Western jazz and pop covers, Uthup turned the gathering into a spirited celebration, drawing young and old alike, filmmakers, foreign delegates, and local dignitaries to their feet.
Her repertoire featured high-octane staples like “Hari Om Hari” and “Darling,” delivered in her signature husky, booming voice.
Uthup’s powerhouse performance provided the festival with a fittingly celebratory conclusion.
For over an hour, Uthup kept the audience, and most of them youth, in their toes as she sang one song after the other.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his father, Farooq Abdullah, could not hide their excitement as Uthup set the stage on fire literally.
From ‘Dam maro Dam ‘ to ‘Jaane jaan’, ‘Aa dekhe zara’, and ‘Ramba Ho’, Uthup’s songs made everyone sing and dance.
She threw everyone into a trance when she asked them to sing ‘duniya ne hum ko diya kya’.
Even prominent filmmaker Ramesh Sippy couldn’t control himself and went on to the stage to dance.
While she sang ‘Ramba ho’, Everyone was shrieking at their highest voice. The atmosphere was electric.
Sometimes even her loud voice seemed to fade as the audience reciprocated.
The audience didn’t want the evening to get over and were asking for “once more”.
Her rendition of the Kashmiri language’s famous ‘Hukus Bukus ‘ and ‘Bisht Bisht byarue’ evoked a standing ovation.
She sang the Senorita song from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and everyone jumped with joy.
Her ‘Darling’ was the most-demanded song and she could not say no. Young girls in the audience were having the time of their lives and dancing carefree.
Uthup concluded with Saare Jahan Se Acha and a memorable and joyful evening came to an end.
Meanwhile, Iranian film “Whisper My Name”, directed by Rasoul Sadrameli, won the Best Film award at the festival.
The drama film also won Best Actor Male for Amin Hayai.
The Best Actor Female award went to Tanya Maniktala for Arifa.
The Best Film from J-K award went to ‘Tasrufdaar’ directed by Kapil Mattoo. PTI SSB APL APL
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