Live performances by globally renowned singers, Angelique Kidjo and Leona Lewis and a show by ‘India’s Got Talent’ winners Suresh and Vernon Group are among the highlights of Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) 2011, which got underway yesterday at Katara, the Cultural Village. Bollywood will come alive today at Katara Open Air Theatre today at 8pm when Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Jeff Zimbalist’s music and dance-filled documentary Bollywood - The Greatest Love Story Ever Told is screened for its Middle East and North Africa premiere. The film features archival clips and interviews with many of Bollywood’s most prolific movie stars including Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and the late Shammi Kapoor. Suresh and Vernon Group will give a breathtaking display of their awe-inspiring stunts and electrifying dance moves for audiences after the film. A special performance is also scheduled tomorrow (Oct 27) as part of the festival’s extended programme of family events. The famed African recording artist Angelique Kidjo will bring her Grammy-winning distinctive sound to Katara tomorrow following a screening of Mama Africa, an inspiring tribute to iconic South African singer Miriam Makeba. The show will open with up-and-coming East African diva Somi, whose sound has been described by some as ‘holistic new African jazz.’ On Friday, when DTFF celebrates Family Day (Oct 28) Kidjo will once again appear, performing a free concert for festival goers. Eclectic feminine vocalist Oum, will also grace the stage, bringing her Moroccan style and soul-filled sounds. The third edition of DTFF will close on Saturday (Oct 29) with a concert by multi-platinum selling artist Leona Lewis following the screening of The Lady, an epic biopic of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, directed by the famous French filmmaker Luc Besson. Lewis is set to release her third album, ‘Glassheart’, in early 2012, but the first single from the album, ‘Collide,’ has already topped the charts in the UK and US. Lewis skyrocketed to international success after winning the series ‘X-Factor’ in 2006, and thereafter received widespread acclaim for her global hit ‘Bleeding Love’. A ticket to each select film will automatically entitle festival-goers to each attached concert. However, there will also be a number of tickets for each performance that will be made available to standby guests. More information relating to festival box office venues, screening locations, transportation or ticket purchases could be had from
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