Citygritty 8212; Pune

Celebrating on celluloidFor Marathi literature lovers, the film festival being organised by the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan from May 1...

Celebrating on celluloid
For Marathi literature lovers, the film festival being organised by the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan from May 10 to 17 promises to be a bonanza. Including short films on noted Marathi poets Suresh Bhat, N.D. Mahanor, Mangesh Padgaonkar, Vasant Bapat, Shanta Shelke and Indira Sant, the festival will also feature documentaries on stalwarts such as Kusumagraj and P.L. Deshpande. Thirteen of the short films have been produced by the local organisation Aksharvedh and directed by Madhavi Vaidya, while a couple of the remaining are the creations of the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan. To be inaugurated by Mohan Dharia, the chief guest will be poet Narayan Surve.

Time to head for the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture for a whiff of Marathi literature. More space for childrenit8217;s time issues of children8217;s rights got a more prominent display. That8217;s precisely what the Community Aid and Sponsorship Project is trying to ensure. At a meeting of its office-bearers held in the city recently, it was decided that the mass media could be an effective tool in highlighting the problems of destitute and under-privileged children, and this has been taken up as a specific project.

Says Vasant Kane, coordinator of this activity, 8220;We have decided to approach about 150 editors of newspapers well-known at the district levels and run a series of articles on various issues pertaining to children.8221; Keeping in mind the vast numbers of children who lead a difficult life either because they are orphaned or from lower social strata, the organisation is insistent that an atmosphere of awareness be created so that their situation can be remedied. While right now, only the print medium has been approached right now, even Akashwani and Doordarshan are being taken into consideration as viable media. While the organisation will guide the issues to be addressed, local writers are to be roped in, who are conversant with specific areas, problems of children there, and most importantly, can write in that colloquial style to influence some decision. Here8217;s hoping that children issues now get the space they deserve.

Little paper man
City children are becoming the national highlight these days, what with Baldoot, the children8217;s weekly magazine programme aired on Doordarshan, panning its camera on Pune and its whizkids. The latest to hit the screen is Anup Tapadia, a young origamist from Pune, who has participated in quite a few international origami meets so far and will leave for another in July-August. The Baldoot team has a tete a tete with this little craftsman in its episode earmarked for the May 9 slot.