IN RAPT ATTENTION: Visually impaired children move closer to the speakers at the screening of the first audio-described children's film at Devnar School for the Blind in Hyderabad on Thursday. Photo: K. Gajendran

HYDERABAD: The children in the hall were totally engrossed in the movie, letting out a guffaw and laughing when the kids in the film `Katt Katt Kad Kaddu' give a slip to a gentleman after stealing mangoes from his garden. Everyone forgot for a moment that the enthusiastic audience were visually impaired children.

The first ever audio-described film screened for the visually impaired as part of on going International Children's Film Festival, opened up a new dimension in enjoying a film to them. The film specially screened for the visually challenged at the Devnar School for the Blind saw an excited response from them. For the film with the audio description of silent scenes, done by Rummi K. Seth of Saksham, an NGO, filled in the gaps perfectly in their auditory perception like never before.

"Now we do not have to depend on any one to explain a silent scene with no dialogues. We can enjoy a film in its entirety and independently, thanks to the audio description," says Udayasri, a class IX student.

The children appreciated the film made by Jayashree Kanal in Hindi for its subtle humour, the way it dealt with the emotions and psychology of children and how they win over the heart of the reticent and seemingly stern retired Navy Captain whose only passion was gardening.

Srikanth, Dikshit and Ranjit say in unison, "We want more and more audio-described films so that every category of audience has equal privilege for entertainment. The audio-description should also be made available in English and regional languages to cater to children of all regions."

Adds Srikanth, "Every film should be audio-described, right from title, star cast to the `end'. The audio-description of various locales shown in movie will help us relate better to the film."

Giving an indication that the children did not miss out on anything, Dikshit recalls the scene how the Captain plays music to the Pumpkin plant to make it grow healthy and win a prize in the national competition for vegetables. "The movie makes a point that plants have life, feelings and need attention."

Favourite stars

Do they `watch' movies often? While Srikanth likes movies with a good message and sentiment, Dikshit chips in, "Such films are rare." Their favourite films include `Chatrapathi', `Tagore' where violence had a purpose. And their favourite stars? Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh, Shahrukh Khan, and late Soundarya. But how do they judge their acting skills? "Through their dialogue delivery and voice modulation. We visualise them by giving a form to their voice."

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