Drishti Film Club – A Space for Cinema and More
Every campus needs a place where people can come together to discuss cinema, art, share experiences, and ideas, and connect with the community. Drishti Film Club is that space within Pondicherry University, but it’s not limited to just students. The club was founded by the Department of Electronic Media and Mass Communication under the guidance of Dr. Radhika Khanna, Head i/c of the Department and Director i/c of the Educational Multimedia Research Centre, Pondicherry University.
The club was officially inaugurated on February 6, 2023, in the department’s auditorium by Prof. Tharanikkarasu, Director Studies and Dean i/c, School of Media and Communication. Invited filmmaker Ranjan Ghosh along with Prof. Venkata Rao, Dean, Students’ Welfare, and Dr. Siby George, Deputy Dean, Students’ Welfare graced the occasion. The inaugural film was Mahishasur Marddini (2022), written and directed by Ranjan Ghosh himself, who also served as a filmmaker-in-residence at the department, conducting various workshops for a month. Four skill-building workshops were held, covering topics such as Foundations in Feature Film Screenwriting, Mobile Filmmaking, Acting and Performance, and Film Appreciation.
The inaugural week was especially significant as it featured special film screenings and discussions in connection with Water Fest 2023, in collaboration with CMS VATAVARAN and the Office of the Dean – Students’ Welfare. Movies and documentaries like Saving the Saviour, Holy (Un)Holy River, Arsenic: The Creeping Killer, and many others were screened as part of this collaboration
Even before the club’s official inauguration, film screenings and discussions were a recurring activity in the department. With the inauguration, these gatherings became more organized. Drishti Film Club now holds screenings and discussions every Friday at 3:30 pm in the DEMMC auditorium. Films from around the world, spanning different genres and languages, are showcased. Everyone interested is welcome to join, and members participate in discussions moderated by Dr. Radhika Khanna after the screening. Last academic year, films like Margarita with a Straw (2014), Chhichhore (2019), The Great Dictator (1940), and documentaries such as Meelon Dur (Miles Away) and Nero’s Guests (2009) attracted large audiences. On March 22, 2024, the club organized the screening of Kadaseela Biriyani (2021), followed by a discussion and masterclass with its director, Nishanth Kalidindi.
This academic year’s screenings began with Wim Wenders’ Alice in the Cities (1974). In the following weeks, Perfect Days (2023), Aattam (2023), 12 Angry Men (1957), Wild Strawberries (1957), Persona (1966), Rashomon (1950), The Elephant Whisperers (2022), and Devi (1960) by Satyajit Ray were showcased. The club organized a special screening and discussion of Bulbul Can Sing (2018) to celebrate International Girl Child Day on October 25, 2024, in collaboration with the Centre for Women’s Studies.
Drishti Film Club is a space that nurtures ways of seeing, deep listening, empathy, and critical thinking by fostering focus, vision, and appreciation for cinema and the arts. The club aims to offer experiential learning for self-expression and skills development. Through screenings, activities, and workshops, Drishti Film Club encourages students to explore interdisciplinary approaches for self-reflection, community connectedness, and overall well-being.
Drishti Film Club has established itself as a cornerstone for creative expression and intellectual exploration at Pondicherry University through its dedication to fostering a vibrant community for cinema and art.
More on Drishti Film Club on PU Inquirer soon.
-Written by Shifa E
–Edited by Rupam Shukla
