Children’s film fest in DK, Udupi curtailed

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru / Udupi, Nov 25, 2015 : The team, led by Children’s India President N R Nanjunde Gowda and comprising of Karnataka Film Academy President S V Rajendra Singh Babu and Congress leader P V Mohan, met the DC  their request to screen movies for two days was turned down. Apparently, one of the four projectors taken by the team to demonstrate before the deputy commissioner did not work.

However, as elaborate preparations were made for the film festival, DC Dr Vishal, in association with the owners of the theaters in Udupi, arranged film shows in four theaters for two days.

Accordingly, four movies will be shown at Alankar, Ashirvad, Kalpana and Diana theatres. While "Banaadi" (9.30 am to 12.10 pm) and "Sachin Tendulkar Alla" (1.30 pm to 3.30 pm) will be screened on November 25, "Kanasu Kannu Theredaga" (9.30 am to 12.10 pm) and "Haadu Hakki Haadu / Sachin Tendulkar Alla" (1.30 pm to 3.30 pm) will be screened on November 26.  A total of 8,000 students are expected to view the movies during the two days.

In Dakshina Kannada  :  DC Adoor B Ibrahim had asked the organisers to submit the copies of the movies to be screened following the chaos, there was not much confusion on Nov 24, in Mangaluru city. Though there was a technical snag in Ramakanthi theatre, it was set right.

However, as the organisers (Children’s India) apparently did not have an agreement with UFO in Delhi (which is mandatory) to screen the films in taluk headquarters of Dakshina Kannada, nearly 9,000 students from Sullia, Belthangady, Puttur, Moodbidri and Surathkal lost an opportunity to view the movies.

Meanwhile, though the organisers had claimed that interaction sessions, workshops and seminars by international delegates would be held with students on selected topics, no sessions or workshops were held on the first two days.

The organisers had also announced that major events, pertaining to International children’s film fest, would be held at Pilikula Nisargadhama. However, there were no programmes in Pilikula.

It may be remembered that the State government had released a sum of Rs 25 lakh to Children’s India to organise International Children’s film festival in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.