Lens on child labour, disability

From fascinating fiction to pressing socio-political issues, nothing is beyond focus for GeNext.

A unique two-day film festival, which kicked off at St Xavier's College in Ranchi on Friday, showcases movies made by students on an assortment of subjects such as child labour, rock music, Valentine's Day and Everest conqueror Premlata Agarwal.

The inter-college festival, Cynosure 2012, is being organised by the mass communication and video production department of the host college for the third consecutive year. On screen are 13 documentaries, six fictions, three animation movies and two mobile phone films.

Besides the host cradle, young filmmakers from Jamshedpur's Karim City College and Bihar's Patna Women's College are participating in the festival.

Friday's opening saw an august gathering of documentary directors like Meghnath, Shree Prakash, Bijju Toppo and Sushil Ankan.

Chief guest on the occasion was character actor Mukesh Tiwari of Gangaajal fame. Lauding the efforts of the student organisers, Tiwari said: "The content of each film, is thought-provoking. This is quite an effort. All these students need is exposure. They have to venture out and interact with their peers from film institutes. I am also willing to conduct a workshop on film-making here."

Day One of Cynosure 2012 saw students of Xavier's screening short films namely Silent Records (on rock music), Qurbaan (on child labour), D Yng Pictr (on agitations), Zaykedaar Jharkhand (on food), The Postmaster (on letters) Hope Never Dies (on disability), Zindagi Jeete Hue, The Dream I Did Not See, The Revival, and Character Dheela Hai among others.

Students of Patna Women's College screened Life As It Is, while Karim City College students showcased Steel Lady Wins Everest (on Premlata) and love flick 14th February.

Gurtegh Singh, a first-year student of St Xavier's, said: "I liked Qurbaan, which portrays the plight of children who work to support their family. It has opened my eyes."

Apart from films, an exhibition of 63 photos was also hosted outside the college auditorium on Friday. Students have voted and the best will win a prize on Saturday.

The concluding day of the festival will witness more films like Mangru, Aisa Ho To Kaisa Ho, Anmol Ratan, The Flirty Picture, The Pink Bangles and We Are Animals among others.