‘Brina’ steals the show at Shimla film festival

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 2

“Brina” – a film based on a folk tale depicting the plight of minor girls married to elderly persons for money and polyandry system prevailing in interior areas of Himachal touched the hearts of the audiences at the 2nd International Film Festival of Shimla (IFFS) that concluded here today. The 1.45 hour film moves around a girl (Lavna). Directed by Pawan Kumar Sharma from Mandi, he is a critic on the traditional practice of minor marriages and the aftermaths. The film has a mixed blend of actors from Himachal and Bollywood (Sanjay Mishra and Aditya Srivastav).

The movie is inspired by the practice of marrying puppets followed by their submersion in some parts of Sarkaghat in Mandi after which the public cries in regret for following such practices in the past, says the director. “Outcaste” directed by Graham Colin from the UK, screened in the documentary category, also made a great impact. The film is about a foreign teacher who loved the Himalayas and left everything to pursue her dream to build a house in Manali.

A short film by a former mass communication student of HPU Owais Khan “Gaugatha” focused on the condition of “cows – considered as mother” in India and the incredible work done by gaushalas to save stray cattle.

Another attraction was the premier of 30-minute short film “Laal Hota Darakht” directed by Dr DevKanya Thakur. The film based on the short story of SR Harnot talks about social and religious burdens on financially backward upper caste people who find it hard to perform their rituals in the Hindu religion. Music video “Harbele Pyarua”, the first of its kind Chambyali folk-rap, was also released. The unique fusion of the folk music of Chamba with contemporary rap, written, composed and sung by Manorama, and featuring a budding rapper Umesh Makta, has been produced by Newsense Productions.

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Award list 

International category 

Best short film: Aaina- the mirror (Bangladesh), directed by MD Tauquir Islam

Special Jury Award in short film: The Poster (Bangladesh) Directed by Ahsif Khan 

Best Documentary: Bhagyale Bache Kaharu (Nepal) on Nepal earthquake heroes, Directed by Ganesh Pandey  

Special Jury Award Documentary: Outcaste (the UK), Director by Colin Graham and Laura Graham 

Best Animation: Agrinoui (Cyprus), Directed by Alexis Chaviaras

National category 

Best Short Films: Chaukhat- the frame(Mumbai), Director by  Umesh Mohan Bayade 

Special Jury Award in Short Films: Unfriend 

(Kerala), Directed by Lijin Jose and Shahina Rafeek 

Best Feature Film - 

Tulsiapa (Orissa), Directed by Amiya Patnaik

Special Jury Award for Feature film:  Bollywood Diaries, Directed by KD Satyamkarri

Special Jury Award For Feature Film: Blue Mountains, Directed by Suman Ganguly

Best Documentary Film: HUNT, Directed by Biju Topo 

Special Jury Award for Documentary: Shrouded Paradise, Directed by Jalal-udin-baba 

Best Music video: Saat Phere - State Institution of Films and Television, Rohtak, Directed by 

Amit Kumar 

State Category 

Best Short Films- Ram Bharose, Directed by Manwar Rana 

Special Jury Award For Short Films: The infinite space, Directed by Siddharth Chauhan 

Best Feature Film: Brina, Director by Pawan 

Kumar Sharma 

Special Jury Award for Best Feature Film: Hum bhi agar bachhe hote, Directed by Monish Kaushal

Best Music Video: Chhandniya raata da nazara, Directed by Surinder M 

Talwar & Ajay Vikrant