The High Commission of India, in association with the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, successfully organized the second edition of the Indian Film Festival, “Bollywood Bonanza,” in Georgetown, Guyana from December 2025 to March 2026.
The festival was conducted in partnership with Caribbean Cinemas at their locations in Giftland Mall and Amazonia Mall, as well as with West Central Mall Inc. in Leonora (West Coast Demerara). Over the course of the festival, nine highly acclaimed Indian films with English subtitles were screened. These included Jawan, Mimi, Goodbye, Sam Bahadur, Padmavat, Raksha Bandhan, War, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), and Chak De! India.
The festival was inaugurated at Caribbean Cinemas, Giftland Mall, by His Excellency Dr. Amit Telang, High Commissioner of India to Guyana, accompanied by his spouse, Dr. Deepali Telang. The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, including Ms. Sunalie Ragubar, Assistant Director of Tourism, and Mr. Jewel Fredericks, Tourism Development Officer. In his opening remarks, the High Commissioner highlighted the global appeal of Indian cinema and its significant role in promoting Indian culture, traditions, and people-to-people connections—particularly in Guyana with which India shares deep historical and cultural ties.
Spanning four months, the festival was graced by the presence of several distinguished dignitaries, including Hon’ble Zulfikar Ally, Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, and Hon’ble Vikash Ramkissoon, Junior Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.
The festival concluded on 22 March 2026 with the screening of Chak De! India, celebrating the shared passion for sports. The closing ceremony was attended by Hon. Pauline Sukhai, Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, along with members of the diplomatic corps, the Indian diaspora, and the wider community. Acting High Commissioner underlined the broader acceptability of Indian Cinema in Guyana and emphasized the deep rooted cultural relations between the two countries. Hon’ble Minister highlighted the diversity and unity of Guyana’s multicultural society and thanked Government of India’s cultural partnership with Guyana.
The concept of organizing a spring film festival draws inspiration from the address of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, at the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit held in Guyana in November 2024. In his remarks, the Hon’ble Prime Minister emphasized the global popularity of Bollywood and encouraged the organization of film festivals to further strengthen intercultural cooperation.
The festival was made possible through the valuable support of the External Publicity Division of the Ministry of External Affairs and the National Film Development Corporation under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
“Bollywood Bonanza” received an enthusiastic response from Indian film enthusiasts across Guyana, including representatives of the Government of Guyana, members of the diplomatic corps, media professionals, the Indian diaspora and the student community. The festival underscored the important role of Indian cinema in bringing Indian and Guyanese communities closer together by celebrating the art of filmmaking, enhancing intercultural understanding and fostering stronger people-to-people ties between the two nations.
Georgetown, 23 March 2026
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