Film festival in Chennai to shatter stereotypes

Films like 'Taare Zameen Par' and 'The Aviator' will be shown to dispel fears of people with mental disorders.

City-based SCARF (Schizophrenia Research Foundation), a non-profit organisation and mobile service provider Bharti Airtel will organise a three-day film festival in Chennai from October 10 “to help dispel fears and clichéd images of personalities with mental disorders.”

The festival, titled “Frame of mind”, will showcase nine feature films and portray various manifestations of mental disorders like Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Learning Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a joint press release from the two organisations said.

The film festival is being held in partnership with the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF), it said. The movies to be screened are Vadakkumnathan (Malayalam), Iris, Oil and Water, The Aviator, Hiding Divya and Canvas, (all English), Veyil (Tamil), Taare Zameen Par and Woh Lamhe (Hindi).

Story continues below this ad

Bharti Airtel CEO, Mobile Services (Tamil Nadu), Rajiv Rajgopal said the festival provides an excellent opportunity to showcase real life scenarios of health issues. “We truly hope that this initiative has a wide spread and helps people understand the various facets of health and wellness,”he said.

SCARF Director R Thara said the festival was an attempt to erase certain stigmas attached to these ailments and remove myths people have on this issue.

Personalities from the Tamil film Industry like Radhika Sarth Kumar and noted directors Mahesh Bhatt and Rajiv Menon, would participate in the valedictory function on October 12, the release added.