No kidding around, please!

SANGEETHA DEVI K / TNN / Nov 10, 2005, 20:55 IST

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Hyderabad gets ready to host the 14th International Children's Film Festival.

Hyderabad gets ready to host the 14th International Children's Film Festival.
From where are India's children's films coming?
In the 13th International Film Festival in 2003, B Narsing Rao's Harivillu stood out, making AP proud. But at the 14th festival, no film from AP can boast of such credentials. Why are very few children's films being made, both in the state and in the nation?
Filmmakers blame unwillingness of producers and want of proper marketing.'Harivillu drew appreciation from those who saw the film. But how many people actually got to see it?

I had done a small case study and discovered that good promotion was the only thing it lacked," explains Veda Kumar, chairman, Children's Film Society, Andhra Pradesh (CFSAP).
Agrees the film's director B Narsing Rao, 'Today, not many producers are interested in children's films because of the limited audience. Sadly, though AP has a commendable film industry, good children's movies from AP are rare. Iranian films have made a mark in this area."

Have the powers that be in the Children Film Society of India (CFSI) done enough to promote films? 'There have been efforts but they haven't yielded much result.
When Jaya Bachchan was the chairperson of CFSI, she tried to get exclusive slots for children on Doordarshan. But it didn't work out," adds Rao.
Only a handful of mainstream films have targeted children in recent times. Vishal Bharadwaj's Makdee, Soumitra Ranade's Jajantaram Mamantaram, and VG Samant's Hanuman are a few.
Sawant, who has been in the industry for more than 45 years, tells us, 'The idea to make a film on Hanuman came about in 1994. But it took me a long time to find producers who would understand the kind of animation film would appeal to the Indian audiences."
Sawant is also part of the film selection committee for the upcoming festival. Finally, as actor/director Revathy, who was a jury member for the last festival, sums it up, 'There are two kinds of films �� those made for children and those that are about children.
As a filmmaker, I know it's tough to keep a child hooked throughout a film. Also, the IQ of a six-year-old today is higher than that of a six-year-old of a decade ago. Films need to be contemporary."
What can you expect from the festival?
The festival, which will be held between November 14 and 20, will see around 170 films �� feature films, short films and animation films �� being screened.
More than 25 countries will be taking part in this festival, which is open to school children and the general public. This is the sixth such international festival to be held in Hyderabad, after the city was declared the permanent venue for the festival in 1995.
The films will be screened in seven theatres in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy District. Veda Kumar, chairman, Children's Film Society, Andhra Pradesh (CFSAP), informs, 'Children will be encouraged to have question-answer sessions on different topics with filmmakers through open forum sessions everyday.
As a prelude to the festival, Children Film Society of India, CFSAP and Film Development Corporation are jointly organising film appreciation programmes for children beginning November 10.
Around 50 schools are participating in this workshop, which will act as an orientation programme." A group of student judges will also judge films and the film of their choice will be given the Popular Film by Children's Jury Award.
Students can contact Andhra Pradesh State Film Television and Theatre Development Corporation either individually or through their schools at: 23394065, 23395187, 23315932.
[email protected]

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