Goa: The closing ceremony of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa turned emotional and unforgettable when legendary actor Rajinikanth was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The tribute marked his five remarkable decades in cinema and celebrated his unparalleled legacy as one of India’s most influential stars.
The 74 year old actor arrived in Panaji for the festival’s final day, welcomed with traditional dhol beats, cheers from fans and warm greetings from hotel staff. Videos from the venue showed Rajinikanth folding his hands and smiling as fans queued to have a glimpse of him. His family joined him in the ceremony thereafter, which made the moment even more special.
Rajinikanth’s Heartfelt Speech
Rajinikanth was given a hearty standing ovation during the ceremony at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium. The superstar then delivered one of the most touching speeches of his career.He said, “50 years of acting in cinema felt like 10 or 15 years. If there are 100 more lives, I would like to be born as an actor and as Rajinikanth.”
He went on to express gratitude to the film fraternity and especially the people of Tamil Nadu, saying, “All this honour goes to the cinema industry people and mainly to Ennai Vaazhaveikum Dheivangalana Tamil Makkal (the Tamil people, the gods who keep me alive).”
A Grand Finale to a Global Festival
The 56th edition of IFFI, held from November 20 to 28, 2025, showcased over 240 films from 81 countries. It featured world premieres, restored classics and talks that underscored the changing landscape of global cinema. With filmmakers, actors and delegates from around the world in attendance, Rajinikanth’s felicitation became the emotional highlight of the eight day festival.
The event also celebrated the centenaries of iconic filmmakers and artists such as Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, P Bhanumathi, Bhupen Hazarika and Salil Chowdhury. Restored versions of their films were screened as a tribute to their legacies.
The Indian Panorama segment of this year featured a wide range of 25 feature movies, 20 non feature movies and five debut movies. The lineup emphasised the richness of Indian storytelling and the range of voices emerging from across the country.
A Timeless Star and an Ever Growing Legacy
Rajinikanth’s honour at IFFI 2025 stands not only as recognition of his past achievements but also as a celebration of his unwavering influence. Since his youthful childhood difficult years, when he struggled to make a living, to his recent status of a global cultural icon, his life is something that keeps millions of people inspired.
When the audience applauded him with admiration, one thing became apparent, Rajinikanth is not just a star. He is an emotion, a phenomenon and a legacy that continues to shine just as brightly, even 50 years later
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