"HARIVILLU" AWARDED IN DHAKA

Telugu Feature Film "HARIVILLU", has won the "Best Juvenile Audience Award" at the just concluded 8th International Film Festival in Bangladesh. Organized by the Rainbow Film Society, Dhaka in coordination with the government of Bangladesh between the 15th and 23rd of January 2004, HARIVILLU was the only representation in the competitive section of the festival from Southern India. Directed by the master of parallel cinema in India, Mr. B. Narsinga Rao and produced by the doyen of Indian Film Industry, Dr. D. Ramanaidu, the film had been the talk of the town. In the main festival venue, the film was scheduled for four screenings. On special request the organizers arranged for a special fifth screening, exclusively for children but which was also attended by other important personalities who had missed the other scheduled shows.

HARIVILLU was also screened five times outside the festival venue in other parts of Dhaka, for the general public. It surely drew the attention of all and received maximum media coverage. The subject of terminal illness may not be new. But the approach adopted by the director, Mr. Rao has won him a very high level of appreciation from international delegates from Russia, Germany, Indonesia, Canada, Colombia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

" A Boy of ten suffering from a terminal decease, belonging to an affluent family which can afford to buy anything is finding itself totally helpless in matters of death. The psychological state of the boy's mind; his traumas, his feelings and his reaction keep on lingering in the viewers mind even after they have come out of the cinema halls. A very powerful made film indeed", were some of the reactions from the cultural personalities, film critiques and film buffs when they were asked to express their views after seeing the film.

Mr. Veda Kumar M, Chairman, Children's Film Society, Andhra Pradesh and an active member of the production team of this film, HARIVILLU attended the festival. He received appreciate acclaims from the whole cross-section of audiences, which included young adults, cultural personalities including filmmakers, film producers and film buffs. "The Technical excellence of the film, specially the Cinematography of Mr. A.K. Bir needs to be regarded in high esteem and the handling of the characters by the Director Mr. Narsing Rao should surely win him a lot of laurels. The performances by the boy, Sai Subhakar, girl Nitya and mother Haritha is also commedable", were some of the reactions expressed. After being screened in over seven international film festivals last year, HARIVILLU has surely made a good start to its innings in this year with this award in the Dhaka Festival. This is just a feature in Mr. Narsing Rao's cap, which is now studded with a lot of colorful ones.