Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

RR Dt. Children's film fete begins

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD NOV. 7. It was a day of children, by children and for them alone. That was how the inaugural of the Ranga Reddy district Children's Film Festival took place on the city outskirts on Friday in what was a prelude to the 13th International Children's Film Festival -2003 (ICFF), slated to start on November 14.

Youngsters at the Rajlakshmi theatre in Uppal included the award-winning child-artiste-turned hero, Tarun, the Nandi awardee, Anand Vardhan, and Babu Nitya. The older generation was represented by actor, M. Murali Mohan, Chairman of the Children's Film Society, A.P., M. Veda Kumar, and Vice-Chairman, M.N. Raju.

Addressing a packed gathering, comprising students from nearby schools, Mr. Murali Mohan and Mr. Veda Kumar said this was the first time such a prelude to the main festival was being seen in the districts. After Hyderabad was declared permanent venue for the ICFF, the biennial festivals in 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2001 were held in select districts, they said. Mr. Veda Kumar said the initiative of the State in having district-level film festivals spoke of the need for children in rural areas too to expand their horizons by seeing and showing interest in special films made with children in mind.

Three films - `Chirayu' and `Dharathi Maa' in Hindi and `Anuragam' in Telugu would be screened at six theatres in Ranga Reddy district, he said.

The lighting of the lamp saw youngsters - Tarun, Anand Vardhan and Nitya -- being allowed to take an active part by elders present.

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