Ronita Torcato

Children’s Film Society India's weeklong Mumbai ‘Monsoon Dhamaal’ concluded at  Films Division  15th July 2011 in the course of which ten award winning CFSI films were screened to cheering school children. Entry to the screenings was  free!

This specially curated package has already travelled to Kochi, Pune, Jaipur where it received an overwhelming response. Monsoon Dhamaal will travel to Srinagar, Kolkata, Indore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, New Delhi and Bangalore in the coming month. Interactions with Directors and child artists have also been organised as part of the event. The package includes an entertaining range of genres from adventure to fantasy to wildlife.

The screenings are part of CFSI’s effort to promote children’s films amongst young audiences, she said, adding. “Though there is enough content on 24/7 children’s television, most of it is produced outside India. Young audiences here rarely get the opportunity to watch children’s film that resonates with their lives. We have carefully selected quality films that are not only fun but also broaden children’s perspective about the world they live in.”

“We are happy to receive support from many different organisations who have collaborated with us across the country to hold Monsoon Dhamaal in their cities and we welcome more partnerships like these,” said Sushovan Banerjee, CEO, CFSI.

“CFSI has a strong presence in small towns and villages across the country, where children’s films are screened regularly in collaboration with district collectors, urban cities on the other hand had been neglected. Since last year we have made a concerted effort to introduce our films to children in metropolitan cities and are very proud of the outcome,” he said.

The concept of  cinema for India's children was mooted by India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru whose affection for children is  well known. He  inspired the founding of Children's Film Society, India (CFSI) on 11th May 1955 under the  presidentship of Pandit Hriday Nath Kunzru.
CFSI plunged into business almost immediately with its maiden production 'Jaldeep', an adventure story centered around a lighthouse. The film went on to win the first prize at the 1957 Venice Film Festival for Children's Films.

Over the years,several talented and committed filmmakers, such as Kidar Sharma, Satyen Bose, Mohan Kaul and Rajindar Sharma, Mrinal Sen, Shyam Benegal, Tapan Sinha, and Sai Paranjpye have made films for children. CFSI also conducts Filmmaking & Appreciation Workshops to familarise children with simple techniques of filmmaking and animation and to teach them the grammar of filmmaking.

16 such workshops are held every year predominantly in the rural and tribal areas.

For more information contact CFSI at marketing@cfsindia.org or phone: +91-22-23526798 / Fax: +91-22-23522610