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No longer under a cloud!
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As Vatavaran 2005 comes to a close this evening, ANUJ KUMAR gives an overview
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TALKING ATMOSPHERE N. Bhaskara Rao, Chairman, Centre For Media Studies (right) and P.N. Vasanti, Director at Vatavaran-2005 in New Delhi Photo: Anu Pushkarna
Environment issues have long been under cloud in the country. Taking the lid off is the Vatavaran 2005. In its third year, it is the only film festival in the country on environment and wildlife. With 244 films on show, the four-day fest, which concludes this evening, aims at sensitising the policy makers, media and the public at large about issues concerning our natural heritage.
"It's no longer just the flagship brand Tiger which is on show," as Harriet Nimmo, Chief Executive of Wild Screen, the premier international wildlife and environment film festival puts it. Young filmmakers have dared to look into non-glamorous grass root issues. Entries have come from as far as Sikkim. For instance, Vijay S. Jodha's Healers for All Reasons is a riveting portrait of Rehmat Khan Solanki and Karimbhai Sumra, two village healers whose lives and work symbolise respect for biodiversity and Gandhian selfless service with hints of communal harmony at the grassroots.
Says N. Bhaskara Rao, Chairman Centre of Media Studies, which organises the festival, "Attempt is to educate people that most substantial issues concerning the country are somewhere linked to the environment."
Shying away
According to Rao, print media has been able to speak for the environment but electronic media has usually shied away from its responsibility of building an opinion on issues before they become news. The Tehri episode is a case in point. "There is hardly any platform for such films. Now Star Network and Doordarshan have come forward to showcase award-winning films. And yes, not at a late night slot." Rao says the through their Vatavaran Travels programme they are also taking the films to people who live in the midst of environmental issues. "We also persuade schools to screen these movies." As for the young filmmakers who have to fight the gloss offered by international networks, CMS has announced two film fellowships, one supported by Ministry of Environment and Forests and the other by Star TV. The British High Commission is collaborating with CMS in awarding film fellowships on climate change.
Giving credence to variety, three new categories have been introduced in the award section concerning animation, public service message and student films. "It's a great opportunity for I can't afford an animation film on my known. I need corporate support," says Abhishek Singh, a National School of Design graduate who has come up with an animation film, "A Hunter's Tale". He feels animation could be great tool to teach kids about environment. "They relate more to cartoons these days. I have made it in such a way that you can stop the film in between and asth students what happened next."
Honouring the greats, this year's Prithvi Ratna Award goes to noted wild life filmmaker Narendra Bedi.
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