The Hindu Business Line : Telugu film industry cold-shoulders fest

Hyderabad, Nov. 20 While scores of film lovers, including children, enjoyed the sumptuous menu of 115 films from across the globe at the just concluded International Children’s Film Festival, the Telugu film industry chose to turn its back on the event.

Barring the film producer and President of Producers’ Council of AP Film Chamber of Commerce, Mr Tammareddy Bharadwaja, and directors Mr Sagar and Mr Sivanageswara Rao, there was none from the producers’ and directors’ community to see what their peers from other States and countries had to offer.

Character actors Nazar and Narayana Rao were the sole representatives from the actors’ side. Mr Nazar, who was in Hyderabad to shoot for Don, took time off to watch the Filipino film Mother Nanny.

There were a handful of aspiring directors who watched some movies, particularly the Chinese and Iranian movies.

But for these exceptions, there were none from the industry to appreciate how the new generation film makers from across the world are trying to experiment with themes, techniques and budgets.

Asked about the cold response, a director told Business Line that they were not made part of the event. “They didn’t take us into confidence. We don’t even know what is happening, forget about getting an invite,” he said.

Timings too were a major hurdle. “We are all busy with our schedules. We could not change it,” an associate of a film production house said.

When reminded of Mr Nazar’s presence at the event, he, however, admitted to the fact that it all depended on individual interest.

Mr Vinod Ganatra, director of Lukka Chhuppi (Hide-n-Seek) that featured in Asian Panorama section of this year’s festival, pointed out that the mainline film industry in India never took serious interest in children’s films. “They always pay just lip sympathy,” he said.

More Stories on : Cinema | Children & Parenting | Andhra Pradesh

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