The inaugural edition of Chitrashaala, Village Square’s short film festival on rural India, saw the coming together of filmmakers, actors, cinema lovers and critics at the Alliance Francaise on August 3. Here’s a round-up for those of you who missed the fest!
Conversations on rural India, cinema and the myriad issues concerning both flowed freely amid screenings of short movies at the inaugural edition of Chitrashaala Short Film Festival, organised by Village Square in the capital on August 3. The event also shed light on the challenges faced by artisans, and the impact of climate change on rural life. The packed auditorium witnessed interesting and insightful talks by filmmakers and actors, including Muzaffar Ali, Adil Hussain and Faisal Malik, who spoke candidly about their craft.
Village Square showcased 14 short films set in the hinterland at Chitrashaala, held at Alliance Francaise in collaboration with the Film Critics Guild, as part of the India Rural Colloquy, an annual event organised by Transform Rural India.
The films shown at the festival received huge applause. The viewers were also treated to riveting and witty conversations on the stage featuring Ali, Hussain and Malik, besides the directors of the short films screened at the festival who had come from various parts of India to participate in Chitrashaala.
Actors Adil Hussain, known for his rich experience in Indian and international cinema, and Faisal Malik, who shot to fame for his role in Panchayat, recalled their humble beginnings and how it shaped their growth.
“Growing up in Goalpara, one of the remotest towns in Assam. I was surrounded by a vibrant cultural scene, from local theatre to Bengali cinema, which deeply influenced my acting,” said Hussain, who has acted in films such as Life of Pi, English Vinglish, Mukti Bhawan, and the Norwegian film What Will People Say.
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He added: “I was surprised to meet a young man in Gurugram who hadn’t heard of the National School of Drama. This highlights how cultural exposure and information flow shape our experiences. My upbringing in Assam and my studies in England have uniquely prepared me to portray diverse roles on screen.”
Malik, who too was a part of the chat moderated by film critic Saibal Chatterjee, recalled how his hometown Allahabad played a huge role in buttressing his obsession with cinema — watching Amitabh Bachchan and Mithun Chakraborty repeatedly on the screen.
“This connection to cinema continues to influence my acting,” he said. “The process involves a lot of discussion and sometimes disagreements with directors, but it’s all about the actor’s understanding and aligning with the vision for the role.”
A total of 14 short films were screened at Chitrashaala, including those delving into the themes of rural arts and crafts, and the raging issue of climate change.
“Younger people engaging with crafts across the country can make them more attractive and engaging to a wider audience,” said Muzaffar Ali, whose short film Dastaan-e-Dastkari-Moradabad was shown at the event. “Today’s filmmakers view craft multidimensionally, and as more Indian minds get trained in communication and design, this becomes a significant tool for the emancipation of craftspersons,” Ali added in the chat moderated by Sharma, which followed the screening of movies under the Arts and Crafts category. The conversation also featured Utpal Borpujari and Riah Taipodia, whose films Mask Art of Majuli and Khiew Ranei (Black Clay), respectively, were screened at Chitrashaala. Also a part of the segment was Wooden Tales from Thammampatti by Vivi Raaj.
The ‘Climate Change and Cinema’ segment comprised Priya Thuvassery’s directorial Coral Woman, Jigar Nagda’s Aravali:The Lost Mountains, Upamanyu Bhattacharyya and Kalp Sanghvi’s Wade, Stenzin Tankong’s Last Days of Summer and Novita Singh and Amir Malik’s Jaisalmer’s Khadeens.
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Tankong and Nagda spoke about their experiences in the remote regions of Ladakh and Rajasthan, respectively, to shed light on the inspirations behind their short films. The chat, moderated by film critic Shomini Sen, also struck a chord with the audience as the directors discussed the challenges faced by independent filmmakers.
Also a part of the showcase were three films that emerged on top following a nationwide competition held by Village Square for student filmmakers. The three films – Lullaby of Waves, directed by Ayon Pratim Saikia, Ek Aadmi Ka Nyota by Amit Kumar and Soham Bhende’s Raja ki Baraat – received wide appreciation from the audience.
The short films were judged by a three-member jury comprising Arnab Banerjee, Suparna Sharma, and Shomini Sen from the Film Critics Guild, an association of movie critics headed by film critic and television personality Anupama Chopra. The jury members also felicitated the three young filmmakers as well as Nanki Ghuman, whose Patangarh ka Hero, received a special mention from the panel.
The event culminated with the screening of the short films, the Sanjay Mishra-starrer Giddh (The Scavenger) by Manish Saini, and Bittu by Karishma Dev Dube, which was among the 10 films shortlisted for the Best Live Action Short Film segment of the 93rd Academy Awards. These films were selected as the Film Critics Guild’s choice.
The festival resonated deeply with the participants and the attendees alike.
Discussing the thought behind Chitrashaala, Sameer Kapoor, president, Village Square, said, “We are constantly looking for interesting ways to raise awareness about the heritage and issues connected to rural areas and, of course, climate change, which affects us all. Chitrashaala is one such attempt from Village Square to bring voices from across sectors to engage people on these issues.”
Also Read: All you need to know about Village Square’s Chitrashaala short film festival
Chitrashaala is a part of the fourth edition of the India Rural Colloquy 2024, organised by Transform Rural India (TRI). This is a series of conversations and events held from August 1-8 across Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh aimed at inspiring a rural renaissance.
The Colloquy gathers diverse voices from civil society, government, and business to inspire ideas and actionable solutions for rural development. Hosted during the August Kranti week, this series of conversations and events echoes the spirit of change and action of India’s largest people-power movement.
Through panel discussions, debates, fireside chats, and roundtables, the India Rural Colloquy addresses crucial topics from climate resilience, health and nutrition, youth employment, microenterprises, farm prosperity, gender inclusivity, and local governance, aiming to build a thriving rural India.
Also Read: Chitrashaala – Village Square’s short film fest trains the lens on rural India
Village Square’s Chitrashaala short film festival focused on stories from rural India.
Date: August 3, 2024
Venue: Alliance Francaise, Lodhi Road, New Delhi
The lead image on top depicts actor Adil Hussain, filmmaker Muzaffar Ali and actor Faisal Malik who were there to attend the Chitrashaala short film festival. (Photos by Vashisht Mattoo)
