Tahir Bhat
Srinagar
Media Education Research Centre (MERC), the University of Kashmir in collaboration with Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Pune on Monday kick-started a five-day course on “Film Appreciation” at varsity’s Media Auditorium.
During the course FTII faculty will be sharing their experience with media students regarding the skills and techniques used while appreciating film content, a communiqué informed.
The inaugural session was attended by Vice Chancellor, Kashmir University, Prof Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi besides the visiting faculty of FTII, Pune, and students, scholars and faculty of MERC were also present.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Prof Andrabi said that Kashmiris have proven their mettle in different walks of life; however, there are certain hurdles that are impeding their growth.
“Kashmiri’s are talented, but there is scarcity of opportunities in the field and that is really taking us down,” he said.
Dean School of Social Sciences, Kashmir University, Prof Asifa Jan, who also spoke on the occasion, said that “introduction of such courses into the curriculum is the need of an hour other than the subjects we already have.”
While impressing upon the importance of films she said, “Films are not mere source of entertainment but among the strong social tools which promote social norms and therefore intervene into reshaping the society.”
Coordinator MERC, Faruq Masudi hoped that the five day course will train media students about the different nuances of film appreciation and cinema as an art form, there by honing their aesthetics and technical skills for film making as a creative medium of expression.
Director FTII, Bhupendra Kantholia said that there is a particular way of watching films and this film appreciation course is all about it. He added, “In Kashmir, there is no dearth of talent but awareness. That’s why FTII from next academic session will be establishing entrance examination centers in Srinagar. Earlier it used to be held in Jammu region only”.
