Award  presentation  ceremony  of  ‘Rashtriya  Vigyan  Chalchitra  Mela  and  Competition (RVCM) – 2011’ during 98

Award presentation ceremony of ‘Rashtriya Vigyan Chalchitra Mela and Competition (RVCM) – 2011’ during 98th Indian Science Congress, Chennai on 7th January 2011 The country’s first science film festival has been organized successfully by Vigyan Prasar, Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India with the 98th Indian Science Congress at SRM University, Chennai during 4th to 7th January 2011. The National Science Film Festival has generated enthusiasm amongst science film makers as well as universities and media houses involved in producing films on science, technology and development. Award presentation ceremony of ‘Rashtriya Vigyan Chalchitra Mela and Competition (RVCM) – 2011’ organized on 07th January 2011 at 3:00 pm at Auditorium Hall no. 1, SRM University, Chennai. Guest of Honour Prominent Film Director Dr Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Chief Guest Prof. K. C. Pandey, General President, 98th ISC were graced the award presentation ceremony and facilitated the science film makers and RVCM 2011 winners. Er Anuj Sinha, Director, Vigyan Prasar and Er Gauhar Raza, National Jury Member were present on the occasion. Dr Adoor Gopalakrishnan said “cinema is the beautiful scientific art that man has invented. Film makers and artist imaginations are shown only on screen but the science achieved what ever scientists imagine. Through the science films most complex issues of science & technology can be explained and demonstrated. Science films have great potential. I appreciate that Vigyan Prasar, Department of Science & Technology; Govt. of India has introduced this science film festival at national level. Film directors and producers who are involved in science film making are deserved for awards and honor”. Prof K. C. Pandey said “this is the very important event to promote scientific attitude among masses. Through science communication & dissemination we may reach to the un‐reached. Science films are very important tool for this process and I congratulate to all participants of first national science film festival 2011 for doing this work for the society”. Er. Anuj Sinha said “we are trying to motivate scientists for science communication. Scientists have a responsibility of talking about their research to the lay person. Scientists are not actively supporting science communication and out‐reach activities. In today’s world of science innovations more interaction among film makers, reporters and scientists are required; this is one of the reasons why Rashtriya Vigyan Chalchitra Mela is organized in the 98th session of India Science Congress at Chennai. Through science films we may attract our masses with “Wow” and “Aha” factors. Science films are excellent tool of science communication to promote capacity building and decision making among masses”. Er Gauhar Raza said “There is no doubt that holding the first national Science Film festival is a historical event, but the moment will be lost if we do not convert this festival into a movement. If we cannot ignite the imagination of the young film makers to make science films and submit their entries in large numbers next year then of course we will look back and say that we did not write the history we only made an unsuccessful effort to do so”. 1 Er Raza told that this year jury was faced with the dilemma of numbers. The quality of the films was not under question. The worrying factor was that the number of films that were sent was insufficient to ensure better future for science films. We have to create a situation in the country where this number increases many fold in coming future. Following are the winners on three categories on RVCM 2011:‐ First Category: ‘Popular Science Programme’ ‘Golden Beaver Award’ Film Title: ‘Bahari Duniya ke Ajab Sanket’ directed by Mrs. Seema Muralidhara, Beacon Television, Mumbai ‘Silver Beaver Award’ Film Title: ‘Doorbin ke 400 saal’, directed by Sri Rakesh Andania, Credence Media, New Delhi ‘Bronze Beaver Award’ Film Title: ‘Butterflies’ produced by Dr Babu Sabastian, State Institute of Education Technology, Tiruanantapuram and directed by Sri Suresh Elamon Second Category: ‘Short Films on Science & Technology’ ‘Golden Beaver Award’ Film Title: ‘Action Reaction’, directed by Mrs. Anita Gupta, Central Institute of Educational Technology, NCERT, New Delhi ‘Silver Beaver Award’ Film Title: ‘Ants All Around Us’, produced by Dr Babu Sebastian, State Institute of Education Technology, Tiruanantapuram and directed by Sri Suresh Elamon ‘Bronze Beaver Award’ Film Title: ‘Beyond Bicycle’ produced and directed by Sri Matiur Raheman, Television Programme Company, New Delhi Third Category: ‘Animation and Graphics Films on Science & Technology’ ‘Golden Beaver Award’ Film Title: ‘Pupi‐2’, directed by Mr. K. S. Madhu, Hibiscus Digital Media, Thiruanantpuram There are no winners for the Silver and Bronze Beaver awards in this category. ‘Certificate of Merit’ To encourage the science film makers, Vigayn Prasar honored the short listed films (given below) by presenting them with the ‘Certificate of Merit’:‐ 2 •
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Tahamina Begum from Doordarshan Kendra‐Kolkata for the film ‘Telescope and Galileo’. Sri Bharat Shitole from BHU Entertainment, Mumbai for the film ‘Baate Raaj Ki’ Dr P V Sunil Kumar from Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, Thiruanantapuram for the film ‘Touching the lives’ Moasunep Kichu, and Subha Das Mollick from EMMRC, St.Xavier College Kolkata for the film ‘History of Sound Recording’ Dr P K Bhattacharya from National Council of Science Muesum, Kolkata for the film ‘Aachrya Jagdish Chandra Bose’ Sri Satish Pandye from Lucrative Eye, New Delhi for the film ‘Engineering Marvels‐ the signature bridge’ Mrs. Mohuya Chaudhuri from International Aids Vaccine Initiative, New Delhi for ‘Quest for an AIDS Vaccine’ Background Information of RVCM 2011:‐ Vigyan Prasar, a national institute for science and technology communication under the Department of Science and Technology, has initiated this Mela with Indian Science Congress association; Jangirabad Media Institute, Barabanki, UP and Tamil Nadu Science Forum, Chennai that has attracted outstanding films from India and abroad. All the prize winning entries and selected films from India and abroad have been screened as part of this festival for delegates & participants of the Indian Science Congress. This competition has been organised to felicitate, recognize and encourage science film producers and production of S&T related films/videos. This competition has attracted outstanding science and technology video films produced in the country and set new bench marks for excellence. The Science Film Festival was inaugurated on 4th January 2011 by Er Gauhar Raza, Eminent Science Film Maker, Scientist & Jury Member. Er Anuj Sinha, Director, Vigyan Prasar, DST, Govt. of India was present on the ocassion. The festival was well attended by enthusiast film makers, producers, delegates and science communicators. During the first three days selected science films were screened which were well received by the viewers. Vigyan Prasar (VP) is a national institute for science and technology communication established in 1989 under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. It promotes and propagates a scientific and rational outlook in the society, nurtures interest in science, encourages creativity and develops capacity for informed decision making. For more information or interview with Director, Vigyan prasar, please contact: Mr. Nimish Kapoor, Scientist & I/c Public Relations, Vigyan Prasar, 3 Mobile no.: 98102 15648, Ph.: 0120 – 240 2009, Email ID: [email protected]
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