By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 9 May: On the second day of the five-day Summer Arts Festival-1, organised by Doon Library and Research Centre, an impromptu speech competition based on a short film was organised for the young students of the library in the morning session today. In this, the short film, The Miniaturist of Junagadh, was shown to the students. Quick answers were sought from the students on any one of the three main questions based on this film. Out of these, the three best answers of the students were selected for the award by the panel of judges. The judges included historian Dr Yogesh Dhasmana, social activist Ira Chauhan, and educationist Renu Shukla. In this competition, Rahul Bisht stood first, Himani Dangi, second, and Nadish, third.
The evening session featured screenings of documentaries, films based on music and painting. ‘Begum Akhtar: Zikra Us Parivesh Ka’ was shown first. The duration of this film, directed by Nirmal Chander, was 64 minutes. The title of the documentary is taken from the first two lines of Mirza Ghalib’s ghazal sung by Begum Akhtar, the queen of Hindustani ghazals. The film won the 2016 National Award for Best Biography and Historical Reconstruction and also Best Camera Award, IDSFFK, Kerala, and Jury Award, IFFS, Shimla. The film reaches beyond the established parameters of the biographical documentary. The film attempts to revive Begum Akhtar through stories from her closest fans.
The second documentary film screened was ‘Notes on Guler’.This 55-minute long film has been directed by Amit Dutta. Guler in Himachal, a small princely state near Kangra, had been an artistic and cultural centre since its establishment in the 15th century. Many great people like painter Pandit Seu, his sons Manku and Nainsukh, and poet Brajraj were born in this place. The system of art preservation, under which great efforts were possible even in economically difficult circumstances, seems to have come to an end today. Sadly, the physical landscape of this city is submerged beneath a dam. The documentary seems to succeed in finding some traces of the submerged past through the memories of those left behind.
The duration of the third documentary film shown was 13 minutes. Titled ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ the film is directed by Monica Deshwal and Sagar Gusain. The film poignantly narrates the gentle path of Dehradun-based painter Monica Talukdar.
On this occasion, Nicholas Hofland, Biju Negi, Chandrashekhar Tiwari from DLRC, Sunder Singh Bisht, many film lovers, writers, litterateurs, social workers, intellectuals, library members and a large number of young readers were present in the auditorium.
