Youngster across the country are submitting short videos for the ‘India is’ Global Video Challenge in three categories- India Is... Colorful, India Is... Creative, and India Is... Wherever you are till December 31. “Such a competition helps us understand how the youth perceives our country,” says Navdeep Suri, joint secretary of The Public Diplomacy Division.
People submit three minute videos about what India means to them under any category. Atmika Didwania, an aspiring filmmaker is submitting The Beach in the colourful category and The Basket Half Full in the creative category. She says, “The way I look at India after studying in California till April this year, has completely changed for me. I notice things I never did. The street children, old people, vendors, food stalls, lifeguards and chaos that adds a lot of colour to a beach.”
Shajan C Kumar, an art director is also submitting multiple entries, namely Above the Sky, Flowers and Temple Festivals. He says, “India is so diverse that people of the North do not know much about the South and vice-versa. Such a contest helps break barriers. Also, my film will help encourage people to use our public transport services.”
The advantage of taking part in a video challenge is that your concept is given more importance than the technical aspects of film or camera. Guneet Singh, a graphic artist says, “Videos and photographs should capture emotions of people and how they show their respect to our country. Their spirit should be evident in the video.” Guneet is making a musical video called One Nation One Vision that showcases the buzz in Delhi on August 15. A woman making a rangoli of the Indian flag, the Ashoka chakra in a man’s eye through graphics and vendors selling flags are some of the perspective images of this video.
Many of these youngsters are inspired by the works of great film makers with Shekhar Kapur being a hot favourite. Franklin Nigam, a filmmaker says, “Creating originality in already existing ideas is a challenge. But, through my video, I showcase what the national anthem means to our citizens.” This is done through a six-year-old girl in Jan Gan Man.
Most of the videos showcase the idea of a secular nation. “We hope that the contest will encourage people to think of India in a creative and hopefully positive way,” says Danesh Narang, Founding partner of Skarma.