First Himachal International Film Festival in Mandi selects 2 movies made by Sarkaghat filmmaker

MANDI: Short films “Mukaam” and “Chitta”, directed by talented young filmmaker Dinesh Bhardwaj, who belongs to Sarkaghat in Mandi district, have been selected for the inaugural Himachal International Film Festival.

Dinesh Bhardwaj’s debut short film “Mukaam” is based on the “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” campaign, promoting gender equality by emphasising that sons and daughters are equal. “Mukaam” has previously garnered accolades at the Mad House International Film Festival in Pathankot, the Kala Ghari Film Festival in Indore and the Student International Film Festival in the United States.

His second short film “Chitta” addresses the critical issue of drug abuse prevention. Made last year, it was showcased at ITI-Mandi on Anti-Drug Day with support from the Department of Language and Culture, delivering a powerful message to children about the dangers of drug use. “Chitta” has also been selected for the Star International Film Festival in the United States and the Kala Ghari Film Festival in Indore.

Notably, Bollywood director Pawan Sharma, renowned for impactful films such as “Breena”, “Kareem Mohammad” and “Vanrakshak”, is spearheading the organisation of this film festival with the support of various cultural institutions in Mandi. Rattan Jewellers from Moti Bazaar in Mandi is a major collaborator for the event. The festival will be held at the Language and Culture Bhawan in Mandi.

Scheduled to run from June 27 to 30, the festival will feature 40 selected films from both India and abroad. A special category has been dedicated to short films and movies made in Himachal.
Pawan Sharma, a native of Mandi and a graduate of the 1989 acting batching of the National School of Drama in Delhi, has been an active contributor to the Bollywood film industry in Mumbai for many years.

In an exclusive interview with The News Radar, he revealed that films and short films made in Himachal will be screened on June 27.

Prominent Bollywood personalities such as Sanjay Mishra, Yashpal Sharma, Aditya Srivastava, Rajesh Jais, Hemant Pandey, Vijender Kala, among others, are expected to attend the festival.

In a conversation with The News Radar, Dinesh Sharma expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the selection jury for including his films in the festival. “The Himachal International Film Festival is a blessing for numerous Himachali filmmakers and artistes. Such events will inspire emerging filmmakers to excel in this field, and more new talents will emerge,” he said.

He emphasised that cinema is the best medium to showcase the state’s culture, language, attire and landscapes to the world. However, he pointed out that the government had not yet prioritised this sector, resulting in a lower inclination among youth towards filmmaking.