Little directors leave big impression on masses

Hyderabad, Nov 16 (IANS) The ongoing 18th International Children's Film Festival, India here proves that it's not just watching movies or emulating their favourite stars that interests children. Filmmaking is the hot trend among little ones now.

As many as 12 films, made on their personal experience or social issues like resource management and saving wild cats, were shown on the big screen here.

Some were merely one minute long films and others 14 to 20 minutes or less than that.

Shambuk Biswas, Syed Muztaba Ali and Nishkarsh Sachdeva made a film titled "Our Bit", which stresses on the importance of resources like water, food and electricity.

"Management of resources is important, so when we decided to make a film we thought of doing it on the social issue," said Ali, a ninth grade student from Kolkata.

The makers of "Save The Tiger" (Akshay Rawat) and "Phoolwati Amma" (Shweta, Manish, Rani and Shubham) were groomed by INTACH (The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage). The convenor was simply proud to see students doing a good job in filmmaking.

"We are proud of our students and the fact that two films have been chosen for screening at the festival is very good. We just trained them and now they are young directors," said Anuradha Reddy, convenor at INTACH, Hyderabad.

Another little director Ananya Sen was thrilled as her film made it to top 12 at the festival.

"I had joined a filmmaking workshop. The budget was around Rs.10,000 to make 'Give Me A Chance'. I didn't spend on location as it was shot in the actor's colony. Cameras and cassettes were slightly expensive," the 13-year-old, who came from Delhi to participate in the festival to have fun, told IANS.

"My film is among top 12 movies selected for little directors competition, so I am happy. And it doesn't matter whether one of the competitors is a filmmaker's son or not," added Sen, referring to "Munna Bhai M.B.B.S" director Rajkumar Hirani's 14-year-old son Vir.

Many expected Vir to take father's help to make "Return Gift". But he proved everyone wrong as he thanked Singapore International School in Mumbai for being supportive.

"My school was supportive and also asked me to make films about the school," he said.

The theatre was completely packed and it echoed with children's laughter and applause.

"I enjoyed all the films made by children. My five-year-old son thoroughly enjoyed 'Tamatar Chor' as it shows that it's not good to steal someone else's tomatoes. 'Return Gift' also teaches us not to throw garbage on others," said M. Bhavani from the capital of Andhra Pradesh.