Spread awareness among young filmmakers on Indian literature: Irani

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Smriti Irani has urged organisers of an ongoing festival to help spread awareness among young filmmakers on Indian literature.
At the second edition of the three-day long Chitra Bharati Film festival here, the minister said she was grateful that the organisers sought to promote Indian culture and value through cinema.
Irani and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurated the festival of short films, along with actor-politician Hema Malini, directors Priyadarshan and Madhur Bhandarkar and Bollywood star Arjun Rampal.
The festival, the first edition of which was held in Indore in 2016, was organised by a body called the Bharatiya Chitra Sadhana.

"The Bharatiya Chitra Sadhana is apparently a first effort at joining cinema with 'sadhana'. I am grateful that this initiative to promote Indian values and culture through cinema has been taken," Irani said.
The minister said just as there were "master classes" for directors and actors at the festival, there should be workshops for editors and those working on animation and special effects in its future editions.

"I also want this festival to make young filmmakers aware of our literature," Irani said in her address.
Calling cinema the mirror of society, Khattar said films could have both a positive and a negative influence on the young, and content should be created keeping this in mind.

"Films should be for everyone and cinema should be created in a way that the whole family can watch it together. This festival has taken this responsibility and I wish them luck," he added.
Filmmakers from across 22 states of the country submitted their entries for the festival.
The organisers received over 702 entries out of which 160 films were selected and will be screened at the Siri Fort auditorium till February 21.
Rampal, who has just wrapped a schedule of "Paltan", based on the 1962 India-China war, said to make a mark globally, Indian filmmakers needed to focus on their own stories rather than remaking Hollywood films.

"The Indian film industry is still trying hard to get through the Oscars and I believe the reason for that is the lack of original content. We are still busy copying the West. We as a country have so many stories to offer and we should start making films on them," he said.
Malini said Bollywood had promoted Indian music and culture abroad and such festivals would take these moves forward.
"I am happy that Chitra Bharati has taken this initiative to make people aware of Indian culture, customs and values through films. I completely endorse the idea that cinema should be made keeping in mind our country's honour," she said.

At the festival, filmmaker Subhash Ghai, writer of "Baahubali" K V Vijayendra Prasad and actor-politician Manoj Tiwari will conduct workshops for young talent.