"He thought Iran had no trees!

An adult voice explained that though a big part of Iran was desert, there also was another that received good rain and had lots of trees. The child’s misconception was removed.

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All women are not hapless

The screening of Mr. BPV Rao’s short film Willing to Sacrifice at the Telugu University auditorium was just over and children dazed by the inspiring story of sacrificing of lives by the Bishnois of Rajasthan to protect trees and animals were still recovering when the producer of the film Mr. D.Dayakar Rao was introduced to them. "We are fortunate to have him with us at this screening. Don’t miss this opportunity. Ask him whatever you want to," the organiser concluded

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A question that is engaging several minds for the past several decades viz. how to make children’s films popular, was the topic at the Open Forum of the 1st Asian Children’s Film Festival-Hyderabad held on 16th November at Hari Hara Kala Bhavan. The panel of experts made up to answer to children’s questions comprised Raja Sen (Dir. Damu-Bengali), Nanjunde Gowda (Dir. Chukki Chandramma - Kannada) and Volga (Film-maker – Pathabastilo Pasivadu).

Mr. Raja Sen, Mr. Nanjunde Gouda,       Mr. M. Veda Kumar and Mrs. Volga at the Open Forum		A child participant asking a question and interacting with panel members at the Open Forum

There was a quick volley of questions to which xxxxxxx answered. Then, a girl Kausar asked, "After the husband became a martyr, did the government provided help to his poor wife?" Her voice showed genuine concern for the Rajasthani widow.

"The government has given the family some help. But, you see, the Bishnois do not expect anything. They sacrifice because protecting animals and trees is their lifestyle." Kausar didn’t seem fully convinced. "But how will the wife manage when the bread-earner of the family laid down his life?" she asked.

"It is not correct to think that the moment the husband is no more, the women become hapless. You have seen in the film how Bishnoi women work day and night. Even when the husband is dead the wife is capable of maintaining her children and herself. She is not hapless."

Kausar, who had indeed seen the Bishnoi women confidently working hard realised that, after all, all women are not hapless. She gently nodded in agreement.

Even award-winning films can have flaws

The Open Forum was just inaugurated at the Hari Hara Kala Bhavan by Mr. Issa Razezadeh, Iranian Cultural Counsellor in India and after he finished speaking briefly on Films of Iran the children had begun to ask questions. Praneet got up and said, "Sir, the Iranian Film Willow and Window starts with one boy who has not seen rain before and moves on to tell the story of another boy who has to get a broken window fixed; and also it ends abruptly."

Praneet’s observation could be right or wrong but what is noteworthy that he had attended the script-writing workshop, where he had learnt that a good story is always somebody’s story, the focus doesn’t get shifted and that end has to be satisfactory and complete. He had already started what he had learnt at the 1st ACFF.