Kudumbashree 'Kanas Jaga' Film Festival of Indigenous Children held at Ernakulam

Kudumbashree 'Kanas Jaga' Film Festival of Indigenous Children was held at St. Teresa's College, Ernakulam on 26-27 October 2024. Ten popular films were selected through an audience opinion poll. From these films the three most popular films were selected.'Naranga Mittayi' (Thirunelli Adivasi Comprehensive Development Project, Wayanad) bagged the First prize. 'Daaham' (Attappadi Tribal Comprehensive Development Project) bagged the second prize and 'Network' (Parambikulam Tribal Comprehensive Development Project, Palakkad)  bagged the third prize for the Best Popular Movies.

Bringing the realities of indigenous people's lives to the silver screen, 'Kanas Jaga - Children's Short Film Festival of Indigenous Regions' flagged off on 27 October 2024 with a world record achievement.  'Kanas Jaga' Film Festival bagged the Talent World Record for 'Most films produced and screened by indigenous children at the same time'.

 

The Film Festival was started when Shri. M. B Rajesh, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Excise Department & Parliamentary Affairs Department, Government of Kerala inaugurated the festival online on 26 October 2024. More than 1000 tribal children from across the state participated in the programme. Shri. P Rajeeve,  Minister for Law, Industries and Coir, Government of Kerala inaugurated the valedictory function. Adv. Anil Kumar, Mayor, Kochi Corporation presided over the function. Shri. Vishnu Unnikrishnan, Cine Actor was the Chief Guest of the function. Awards to the selected Best Films and Awards for the 102 films brought to the Film Festival were jointly distributed by the Minister, guests and officials of the Kudumbashree State and District Mission.

 

Top 10 Movies as Voted by Audience:

1. Network (Parambikulam Tribal Comprehensive Development Project, Palakkad)
2. Chelu (Thirunelli Tribal Comprehensive Development Project, Wayanad)

3. Daaham (Attappady Tribal Comprehensive Development Project)
4. Thiricharivu  (Parambikulam Tribal Comprehensive Development Project, Palakkad)
5. Ozhukku ( Marayoor - Kanthalloor Tribal Special Project, Idukki)

6. Naranga Mittayi (Thirunelli Tribal Comprehensive Development Project, Wayanad)

7. Kick (Nilambur Tribal Special Project, Malappuram)
8. Oru Jathi Oru Matham Oru Daivam Manushyanu  (Aralam Tribal Special Project, Kannur)

9. Aadyaksharam ( Malai Pandaram Tribal Special Project, Pathanamthitta)

10. Thirutt (Koraga Tribal Special Project, Kasargod)

 

The Awards for the Signature Song was presented to Shri. Raju. P. V., Animator, Thirunelli Tribal Comprehensive Development Project. Awards were also given to Kerala Gramin Bank and Ernakulam District Mission by the State Mission.

 

The films were screened in 3 venues named Siruvani, Bhavani and Sairandhri. Seminars were held on the topics 'Cultural markers of indigenous life- Literature, Cinema and Media', 'Socio-Economic Challenges in the Indigenous Sector: Innovative Survival Strategies' and  'Protection of Children's Right to Education in Indigenous Regions: A Changing Methodology of Education'. Face to Face Conversations were also organized as part of the film festival.

Kanas Jaga (Dream Place) Programme was planned with the intention of making the children of the indigenous region excel in different fields according to their aptitude. Through the 'Kanas Jaga' Programme, Kudumbashree aimed to make each and every one of them aware of the place where they live, its climate, climate changes, social problems and children's rights. Under the leadership of Kudumbashree, the project has been implemented in the first phase in the areas where the Tribal Special Projects are being implemented.

The activities were planned in such a way that every child who participated in the 'Kanas Jaga' Programme would help to nurture their senses of nature to the maximum. As part of the training, the socio-economic and cultural characteristics and shortcomings of each region were identified and the necessary solutions were presented creatively by the children themselves. In this way, 102 films were written and directed by the indigenous children themselves.