Film on Braille music wins top prize Staff Reporter Judges touched and inspired by the number of films screened - Photo: R. Ravindran Sensitive portrayal: Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla hands over a prize to Pallavi Sharma and Shagun Agarwal for their film 'Bicycle Diaries', at the Ability Fest 2009, in Chennai on Thursday. Oscar winner Resul Pookutty is in the picture. CHENNAI: The world over, Louis Braille is known as the inventor of the Braille system of reading. But on Thursday, at the valedictory function of the India International Disability Fest, Ability Fest 2009, Shalini Agarwal and Deepak Nambiar showed the gathering that the French national also invented Braille music. The Mumbai team's short film, Feel the Music, at the '60 seconds to fame' competition won them the first prize from the panel of judges comprising Oscar-award winning sound designer Resul Pookutty, directors Balu Mahendra and Radha Mohan, actor Shobana, artistic director Bina Paul, CSR manager Mphasis Meenu Bhambhani and stock broker Aditya Govindraj. The national competition was based on the theme 'Equal opportunities', where the two beat 300 other contestants to send the message that Braille music needs to be encouraged. Pallavi Sharma and Shagun Agarwal's portrayal of two children different in their abilities but getting the same joy when one gets a bicycle and the other a wheelchair in Bicycle Diaries won them the second prizes. "Every opportunity leads to a different achievement," the film by the Delhi team conveyed. The third prize was shared by two individuals - N. Dhanashekar and Virender Villikhoo. The team that won the second prize and one of the third prize winners participated in the function. Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, who was the chief guest, said that everyone was special in their own way and success in their chosen field depended on how best they make use of the opportunities around them. He urged non-governmental organisations to assist the Election Commission in the election process, be it in ensuring availability of ramps at polling booths or any assistance which would help the differently abled. The judges said they were both touched and inspired with the number of films screened. "To put across an idea through a film in one minute is not a joke. The quality of films was technically and otherwise good," said director Balu Mahendra, who announced that his next film is on differently abled persons. "It took me 16 years to achieve fame. I am surprised to see the works that were screened as part of the '60 seconds to fame' competition," said director Radha Mohan. Resul Pookutty said films were an eye-opener and one should not look at disability as a deficiency. Bina Paul, director of the International Film Festival in Kerala, offered "an extension of this event in Kerala." Jayashree Raveendran, director of Ability Foundation and C.K. Ranganathan, chairman of CavinCare and festival director P.K. Nair were present. Actor Revathy and Vijaya Bhaskar compered the show. ______ Please feel free to pass your comments, feedbacks & new ideas to the below menntioned contact details. Mobile: 09840228250. Email: saravanan.ramado...@gmail.com saravanan_2...@hotmail.com ******* The harder the conflicts, the more glorious the triumph - Thomas Paine. True friendship consists not inn multitude of friends, but in their worth and value - Ben Jonson. ###### Adieu. Saravanan.R $$$$$$$$$
To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
