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Bhubaneswar, Sept 4: ‘Reeti’, a 90-second film based on discrimination against girls, was adjudged the best at the short film contest Kallola-2016, Sunday. The event was organised jointly by Aaina, a voluntary organisation, and UNICEF Orissa.
Tapas Ranjan Rout, a fashion and street photographer, has directed ‘Reeti’, which focuses on a milkman who distributes milk among his customers for free to celebrate the birth of a female calf but abandons his daughter-in-law when she gives birth to a girl. The film ends with the characters realising their folly.
“We are yet to realise and accept woman as the backbone of the society. We worship goddess Durga but disrespect women,” Tapas said.
The film-maker has a background in theatre. He had interest in film-making and focused on films and documentaries aimed at noble causes. “I feel privileged to communicate socially relevant messages through my films,” he added.
‘Parivartan’, directed by Gaurav Upadhyaya and ‘Butterfly’ by Ashutosh Pattnaik bagged the second and third prizes respectively.
‘Parivartan’ tells the story of a girl named Anmol, who marries a man from an orthodox family. The family wants her to beget a boy to take the family line forward. Although Anmol is delivered of a boy, she refuses to stay with her husband.
‘Butterfly’, in turn, is about a girl deprived of education. The butterfly is a symbol of hardship and aspiration but the little girl is like a wingless butterfly without education. The teacher in the film notices the girl’s desire to learn and takes steps to fulfil it.
The Children’s Choice Award at the event went to the films ‘Khushi’ and ‘My Wish’. While ‘Khusi’, directed by Samarendra Sahu, portrays a family which neglects the girl child after the birth of her kid brother. The parents even force her to quit studies. The father later realises his folly and puts her back in school.
Snehasis Das’s film ‘My Wish’ was an inspirational tale based on the garasia tribals of Sirohi in Rajasthan. The tribe treats boys and girls equally.
Further, the Jury’s Choice Award was bagged by ‘Anamika’ directed by Raj Rishi Mitra.
Besides these, the event included Kallola-Junior, which was the screening of short films made by city students. Five films — ‘Mu Bhi Padhi’ (Capital High School, unit-3), ‘Mu Bi Jhio’ (DAV Public School, unit-8), ‘Parivartan’ (a film made by Governmnet girls high school, unit-9), ‘Alaxmi’ (Sri Aurobinda Institute of Integral Education) and ‘Aji Thu Ekathi’ (St Xavier’s High School, Khandagiri) — were much appreciated by the audience. Trophies were also given to for the best concept, script and direction.
“We received 25 short films, of which only six were selected for awards. According to regulations, we had to select only six but all of them were excellent. They show great awareness of social issues and mastery in film-making,” an organiser said.
Film-maker and director Sabyasachi Mohapatra attended the event and admired the creativity showcased. Chief of UNICEF Orissa Yumi Bae said the event was a cry against discrimination of girls.
Kallola was launched in 2014 with the aim of creating awareness among people on the rights of children and the violations they face.
