October 23, 2016
Drishyam 2016: 2ndBokaro International Film Festival concludes at DPS Bokaro
A 2 day festival of films concludes with edu-tainment
“Films provide impetus to creativity of students and promote appreciation for classic films of the world of cinema” –Dr. Hemlata S. Mohan, Director & Principal, DPS Bokaro
“Movies are the best source of social learning”
- Mr. Atul Srivastava, ED( P&A), BSL
th “Films have largely influenced the mass population in 20 century”
- Mr. Prahlad Agarwal, Renowned Film Historian and Writer
“Films are the best forms of art and expression” - Dr. Satyadeva Tripathi, Noted Film & Theatre Critic
October 23, 2016
„Drishyam 2016‟ – The Second Edition of Bokaro International Film Festival a pioneering educational initiative in Jharkhand organized during October 22-23, 2016 in the KaliDas Kala Bhawan of the learners‟ paradise-DPS Bokaro. The festival was graced by Mr. Atul Srivastava, ED P&A, BSL, Pro-Vice Chairman, DPS Bokaro, as the Chief Guest of the occasion. The other dignitaries who were also present were - Dr. G. N. Sahoo, Director, Bokaro General Hospital, (B.G.H.) and Mr. S. K. Jha, G.M., B.S.L.
Celebrities from the film fraternity participated in the ceremony. The eminent personalities present this year were - Mr. Prahlad Agarwal, the renowned film historian and the script writer, Dr. Satyadev Tripathi, creative maestro in the film world Dr. Vijay Sharma, Educationist, Author, Script and Short Story Writer and Mr. Abhishek Kashyap, Director of Bokaro International Film Festival.
Mr. Prahlad Agarwal has written biographies on two great filmmakers of all time in Hindi Cinema - Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt like ‘Raj Kapoor – Aadhi Haqeeqat Aadha Phasana’, ‘Pyaasa: Chir Atript Gurudutt’, ‘Kavi Shailendra – Zindagi ki Jeet Ka Yakeen’,' O Re Majhi: Bimal Raika Cinema,‘Reshmi Khawabonki Dhoop Chhaon: Yash Chopra ka Cinema’, ‘Baazar ke Baazigar: Ekkiswi Sadika Cinema’,‘Jug Jug Jiye Munna Bhai: Chhaviyon Ka Mayajaal’, ‘Uttaal Umang: Subhash Ghai ki Film Kala’ and ‘Hindi Cinema: Beeswi Sadi se Ekkiswi Sadi Tak’. Noted Story Writer, Film Journalist and the Director of the International Film Festivals, Abhishek Kashyap mentioned that Prahlad Agarwal had recently written two major books on 'Hindi Movie: Aadi se Anant', published in four large volumes penning a detailed account of the Hindi cinema of more than a thousand across 100 years. While his other book, 'Pratham Purush' covers the chief architects of the Hindi Cinema in the era of 1913 - 2016 and a more detailed account the highly successful film directors since 2000.
The inauguration of the festival comprised the welcome song, school song, Ganesh Vandana- a dance choreographed on Kathak style, and a welcome address by the Head Boy Md. Altamash Mazhari and Head Girl Mehuli Sadhu. In the inaugural speech, Mr. Srivatstava, the chief guest recollected his fond memories of watching Hindi cinema. Movies like ‘Ankush’ and ‘Do Haath & Baarah Aankhein’ were some of his favourites. He said that movies are the best source of social learning. We not only watch it we gain and learn new experiences about life.
BRIDGING THE CINEMATIC DIVIDE BETWEEN THE CLASSROOM AND CINEMA
The President of Bokaro International Film Festival (BIFF) as well as the Director & Principal of DPS Bokaro, Dr. Hemlata S. Mohan said that, “Drishyam is a pioneering endeavour started by our school last year with a view to use films as a powerful educational tool for the students. It is one of the most entertaining yet effective means of learning and in the modern times, films have become the latest educational tools. Films provide impetus to creativity of students and promote appreciation for classic films of the world of cinema.” Highlighting the importance of film festivals, she further said that, “The aim is to provide quality film experience for students and to encourage them to deepen their knowledge of film and to express themselves through film as a medium. It also aims to inspire new generations towards the October 23, 2016
dynamics of cinema. In the age of DVDs and CDs, the school believes in such festivals where “Meet the Directors” is an important component which provides a learning experience to the students on the different facets of film making through the face to face interactions with Film Critics, Analysts and Script writers. Documentaries are always educational and informative. It tells about the beginning of the filmmaking. Commercial movies are purely of entertainment value. Young learners have to be provided
the scope to be educated in these areas. The School believes and promotes an inclusive, integrated and functional curriculum. In a festival, the films are of varied genres and the participation from various schools further binds them together. A film festival is also a convergence of students from different backgrounds as they are from different institutions”.
LEARNING THE NUANCES OF FILM MAKING
On Day 1, the session began with the screening of an insightful documentary on the life of the legendary Actor & Singer, Sri Kundan Lal Saigal, titled, ‘Saigal, Baso Mere Mann Me’. The documentary was directed by Mr. Sharad Dutt. Later the Filmfare Award winner movie, „Boot Polish‟ (1954), Directed by the renowned personality from the film world Raj Kapoor was screened. The movie „Boot Polish‟ is a film about dreams which projected a shoeshine boy on the dusty streets of Lahore dreaming of rescuing a beautiful courtesan. Boot Polish is a pure example of Hindi Cinema. It is filled with stylized artifice, songs and dances, idealized characters, myriad sub-plots, and most importantly an inspiring message. Before the screening, Mr. Abhishek Kashyap along with Mr. Agarwal introduced the context and background of the film. Sri Prahlad Agarwal, the noted Film Historian & Analyst took interactive sessions with the students on both the documentary and the film, „Boot Polish‟.
On Sunday, Day 2, a children film „Matilda‟; Directed by Danny DeVito & Written by Roald Dahl- a very popular Short Film Writer for Children, was screened. „Matilda‟ is a story of a wonderful little girl, who happens to be a genius, and her wonderful teacher vs. the worst parents ever and the worst school principal imaginable. After the screening, Dr. Vijay Sharma had an interaction with the students wherein she stressed on the importance of childhood days, the joys of childhood in the contemporary scenario. Bridging the cinematic divide between the classroom and cinema, the screening was later followed by an intellectual discussion on „The Prevalent Multiplex Versus the Theater Culture‟ which presented by Dr. Satyadeva Tripathi. He put up a contrasting picture of the era of theatres where the films were reflective and depicted reality to the shift towards the modern „multi‟ screen culture which has redefined the context of films to more of commercial value rather than moral values. He said, “Films are the best forms of art and expression, but the prevailing multiplex culture has October 23, 2016
taken the films into the domain of marketing. Except few of modern movies like A Wednesday, Madari, etc- the portrayal of films nowadays are way far from reality”. He further said that the scale of success is now being quantified in terms of earnings while in the times of theatre culture, the number of days it screened was the real success. The discussion was very insightful wherein students also participated with the various questions about Films, Culture of Multi Screen Theatres and etc.
MEMOIRS
The Vote of thanks was proposed by the Head Boy Aniket Kumar. The Director and Principal of DPS Bokaro also the President of BIFF (Bokaro International Film Festival), Dr. Hemlata S. Mohan appreciated the conduct of the audience. Along with the Film Directors, she showcased the Drishyam Memento in the festival.