The Hindu Business Line : Lacklustre start to chilren’s film fest

Hyderabad, Nov. 14 The 15th edition of International Children’s Film Festival got off here on Wednesday, but without the glitter and fanfare. In sharp contrast with the earlier editions, signs of a festival was not visible in the city.

The main venue for the event — Prasad’s IMAX multiplex — was devoid of delegates, not to speak of representatives from abroad. Asked about the lukewarm response this time around, a festival official said: “You can see them (delegates) from tomorrow.”

Officials expected them to trickle in after the inaugural event in the evening.

Mr Dasari Narayana Rao, Union Minister of State for Coal and veteran producer-director-actor, didn’t mince words as he expressed his unhappiness over the way the festivals were being conducted.

Land issue

It has become a formality, without any involvement from the crucial stakeholders, he said, addressing the inaugural function. “Whatever happened to the permanent facility for the film society?” he wondered.

Despite getting land from the State Government, the Children’s Film Society could not complete it. He hoped that it would be ready by 2009.

The atmosphere at Telugu Lalitha Kala Thoranam, where the event was formally inaugurated in the evening, was more colourful.

Children bring cheer

What added some cheer to an otherwise dull day at the main venue were the scores of school children from around the twin cities who had gathered there. In fact, they brought some joy into the event with their spontaneous responses as they watched Tsunami 81 and Hanuman.

The inaugural day saw three (out of four) screens playing movies from Iran, Czech Republic and India.

Tsunami 81, the Indian film directed by Naeem Sha, was a big hit both with the children and the handful of delegates present.

It was the story of a five-year-old and a youth — both left orphans after the tsunami devastated Nagapattinam — who go on to become a ‘family’.

The Iranian film, The Redness of Unripe Apple, was also received well by the audience.

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