Do we have a decent repertoire when it comes to children’s films? Experts talk

Sheetal

It was a script based on children’s game which made the South Korean series Squid Game a global hit. But it was definitely not certified for children to watch. Do we have enough content to entertain our younger generation? This Children’s Day, we talk to child artistes and experts who dig deeper into this issue. We also list some good films for children to watchhellip;

Borrowing star power

Time and again there have been efforts from big stars such as Salman Khan and Aamir Khan to give children films a boost. And films like Taare Zameen Par (13+, available on Netflix), Chillar Party (7+, Netflix) and Secret Superstar (For 13+, Netflix) received love from the audience. But was it enough?

Mukesh Khanna, who has made the successful children’s show Shaktimaan and served as the chairman for Children’s Film Society of India (CFSI), spells it out for us, “When you make a film and approach a star to attach his name to it or feature in it in some capacity, you are not marketing the children’s film as it is. You are just reluctant to take the risk and sell it as it should be—a children’s film. If Western filmmakers can keep children’s films as a separate genre, we too can do it. If Harry Potter (13+, Amazon Prime Video) can be a success, in India there are plenty of children’s literature to take inspiration from and folk stories to educate our children. Only the intent matters.”

The former chairman, who had resigned from his post for the reason that not enough efforts were being made by the government for the future of our nation, even gives a solution, “I think it should be mandatory for every producer to make one film for children after five Bollywood films.”

Write me a story

Celebrated Indian author Ruskin Bond’s two stories for children were adapted into films, The Blue Umbrella (7+, Netflix) and The Black Cat. As for the latter, the film was screened at the 20th International Children’s Film Festival India in Hyderabad. Starring Tom Alter and Shernaz Patel, it was directed by Bhargav Saikia.

One of the first films that the director remembered watching in his childhood was Mani Ratnam’s Anjali (1990) which moved him.

From the child artiste

Chandigarh boy Sameep Ranaut has won the National Award for Best Child Artiste for the film Harjeeta. The 14-year-old watches films and series of all kinds to prep for his acting career. He says, “As far as I remember Taare Zameen Par was one film that I had enjoyed watching. Darsheel Safary as Ishaan Nandkishore Awasthi was a success because people watched the film as it had star power. But it wasn’t the case with films that followed. Making films for children and casting children in it is the right way to go.”

Actress Zoya Afroz made her first appearance as a child artiste in the television series Kora Kagaz in 1998 and continued to do so in films like Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999), Mann (1999) and Kuch Naa Kaho (2003). While she cannot recall many full-fledged children’s films except for Chillar Party, she says that the industry does take child artistes seriously.

Award-winning content

Children’s films that came out with flying colours are I Am Kalam (7+, Amazon Prime Video and Netflix), Dhanak and 1990 Tamil drama Anjali by Mani Ratnam. I Am Kalam was screened at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival in 2010 and went to various film festivals. Nagesh Kukunoor Naidu’s Dhanak was premiered at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival where it won the Crystal Bear Grand Prix for Best Children’s Film. Dhanak was also screened at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, and the Toronto International Film Festival. Anjali (1990) not only won three National Awards but also was India’s official entry to Oscars 1991. And who can forget Halo which leaves one with overflowing emotions? The film got the National Award for Best Children Film in 1996.

For the message

About availability of content for children, Mukesh Khanna, says, “There are more than 260 films with the CFSI and one can find the catalogue at the official website.” The DVDs of children films can be purchased from the organization itself. Some other notable mentions are Udaan (13+, Netflix), Stanely Ka Dabba (U, Disney+ Hotstar) and Koi… Mil Gaya.

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