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"We are all children in different sizes and shapes and lets be children for a while and as much as possible."

"Great man is he who does not lose his child’s heart."

This set the tone for a frank and free session of over an hour at the Open Forum inaugurated on 15 November by Mr. Issa Rezazadeh, Cultural Counsellor, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Speaking about children’s films in Iran Issa  Rezazadeh told that out of 70-75 films being produced annually 10-15 are for children. He also traced out a brief history of the development of films in Iran. Panelist Mr.. Kaushik felt that society’s efforts should not end with a week long festival but should continue round the year. Another panelist and Director Mr. Ashok laid stress on child psychology and development of a child’s personality Vijay, a child artist who won Karnataka State’s award for acting, said, "We are like plants. When you water us with encouragement we grow,"

There also was a question in lighter, but sincere vein whether Irani Chai and Irani Haleem are really Irani?" Mr. Rezazadeh, with a beaming smile, said that the Iranians had a very special and a very different way of making Chai and also Haleem.

Child Hanjas asking a question in Open Forum		At Hari Hara Kalabhavan

•  As compared to an international film festival, an Asian Film Festival is important because it can focus on values that are common to Asian countries and which may not be understood or appreciated by other countries.

• The 1st Asian Children’s Film Festival at Hyderabad is indeed welcome. But it is rather delayed. It ought to have been started long back. There has been a great need for it.

• In this age of globalisation there are only two things we can do. Preserve national identities and remain isolated or share whatever we have and cooperate with each other. Together we can do a lot. While India produces around 1000 films per year, Iran makes only 77. Last year it bought 30 films from India. We have to look for new markets. Especially abroad. We have also to strike a new partnership. Cooperation is therefore essential.

• To answer the question whether censorship is necessary, first we should be clear about what censorship means. Censorship should be there for values it should not be for political, economic and social considerations.