October 23, 2016

Drishyam 2016: 2nd

Bokaro 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

“Films have largely influenced the mass population in 20th

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.