DNA Special: RSS' film festival gets over 700 entries

In yet another move at cultural contestation in India, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is organising an international film festival. The festival, interestingly, has received entries from several Muslim countries from across the globe.

According to Sangh functionaries, the three-day event called Çhitra Bharati Film Festival — to start on February 19 and conclude on February 21 at the Siri Fort Auditorium — has received more than 700 entries from all states across the country, including those with Congress governments.

The festival will be opened by Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani and Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu and Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore will be present at the valedictory session.

Bollywood bigwigs such as Madhur Bhandarkar, Subhash Ghai, Jackie Shroff, folk singer and Padma Shri awardee Malini Awasthi have supported the festival, said sources in RSS.

"The last edition of the film festival was held in Indore two years ago, and that fest had received entries from only nine states. But, this time all states have sent their entries. This shows not just the increasing popularity of this platform, but also the need for an alternative to the left-dominated so-called liberal cinema and film-making," said RSS' Delhi Prachar Pramukh Rajiv Tuli.

The event will be screening cinema in four categories — short films, documentaries, animation, and campus films. The winner will be given a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh. The themes are — India: My motherland, women, folk art, environment, Indian family system, Indian cultural values.

About the fest

• The organising body of the film festival has received entries from several Muslim countries from across the globe, 
• The event will begin on February 19 and conclude on February 21 at Siri Fort Auditorium.