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Selected from 2000 entries from across the globe, Chilkuri Sushil Rao’s documentary “The Great Indian Tamarind Tree” to be screened at 7th International Folklore Film Festival, Kerala on Jan 10

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Chilkuri Sushil Rao’s documentary “The Great Indian Tamarind Tree” to be screened at 7th International Folklore Film Festival, Kerala on Jan 10, 2024

Chilkuri Sushil Rao’s documentary “The Great Indian Tamarind Tree” to be screened at 7th International Folklore Film Festival, Kerala on Jan 10

“The Great Indian Tamarind Tree”, an English documentary produced and directed by Chilkuri Sushil Rao of Hyderabad, will be screened on January 10, 2024 at the 7th International Folklore Film Festival@India-Kerala-Thrissur.

The documentary will be screened at the C Achutha Menon Government College, Thirssur, during the 1.30 pm to 4 pm schedule of screenings.

The documentary is about how a large number of people climbed on to the tamarind tree at Afzalgunj and could save their lives during the 1908 floods in Hyderabad.

In the huge floods, hundreds of people lost their lives when the continuous downpour resulted in the Musi river being in spate.

Chilkuri Sushil Rao’s documentary was selected from among the 2000 entries that were received from 70 countries for the prestigious film festival.

The documentary figures among the 200 selected films and documentaries being screened at multiple locations. The festival began on January 5 and ends on January 10.

During the festival, films from Japan, South Africa, Brazil, Morocco, United States, Turkey, Indian, Iran, France, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Georgia, Sweden, Macedonia, Venezuela, Russian Federation, Poland, Ghana, Tunisia, Sudan, Kenya, Canada, Czech Republic, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Oman, Argentina, Serbia, Indonesia, Chile, Iraq, Tajikistan, Israel, Australia, France, UK, the Netherlands, Jordan, Taiwan, Algeria, Angola, Syrian Arab Republic, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan, Egypt, Nepal, Pakistan, Macau, Mexico, Croatia, Lithuania, Portugal, Hungary, Colombia, Austria, and Estonia are being screened.

“It is personally satisfying for me that the documentary is being screened at the 7th International Folklore Film Festival in Thrissur. The documentary has a strong message to convey. It shows how people irrespective of their backgrounds, culture and religion, helped one another to survive the flood by climbing on to the tree,” the documentary filmmaker said.

Festival director V S Seetha said in the country focus section of the festival, there are films from France, Brazil, Spain, Turkey, Portugal, South Africa, Germany, China, Morocco, Phillipines, Italy and Egypt.

“The films mirror the cultural diversity of different countries,” Seetha said.

PWD Resthouse complex, Thirssur, Centre for Media Studies, St Thomas College, Government Fine Arts College, Thrissur, Sri C Achutha Menon Government College, Thrissur, and St Mary’s College, Thrissur.

Six films of women directors from Iran are also being screened at the festival.

Indian documentary “Oscar Challagariga” by Chilkuri Sushil Rao on Oscar winner Telugu lyricist Subhash Chandrabose wins Best Documentary Short at Cannes World Film Festival, France

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Indian documentary “Oscar Challagariga” by Chilkuri Sushil Rao on Oscar winner Telugu lyricist Subhash Chandrabose wins Best Documentary Short at Cannes World Film Festival, France

A Telugu documentary titled “Oscar Challagariga” on Oscar winner lyricist Kanukuntla Subhash Chandrabose has been declared winner in the Cannes World Film Festival, Cannes, French Riviera, France.

The results in various categories were announced on December 27. “Oscar Challagariga” was adjudged Best Documentary Short.

The documentary from India, emerged winner from among the nominees, including two from the United States.

“I am elated to know that the documentary “Oscar Challagariga” about me winning an Oscar and how my village Challagariga celebrated has received applause and attention,” lyricist Chandrabose said, reacting to the announcement of the award.

“Oscar Challagariga” is produced and directed by Chilkuri Sushil Rao, documentary filmmaker from Hyderabad, Telangana. The documentary captures the celebrations in Challagariga village in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district from where lyricist Kanukuntla Subhash Chandrabose hails from.

Lyricist Chandrabose won the Oscar award for the Best Original Song in the Oscar awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Hollywood, Los Angeles, US on March 12, 2023 this year. Chandrabose and music director M M Keeravani were presented with the award for the song ‘Naatu Naatu” from the film ‘RRR’ directed by S S Rajamouli.

When Chandrabose went to his village on April 2, 2023 with the Oscar award, the entire village erupted in joy. Family, friends, relatives and well-wishers danced in the celebrations. Chandrabose recalled his journey from the village to the Oscar stage.

“It is a matter of great joy that “Oscar Challagariga” has won the Best Documentary Short in the Cannes World Film Festival. The fact that a celebration in a small village in India has garnered attention in the world is a wonderful thing. The award is a tribute not just to Chandrabose but his village Challagariga,” Chilkuri Sushil Rao said.

Mother was right

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Mother was right

“Am I mistaken if I were to assume that you are Sushil Rao,” the stranger asked me. He seemed to be sure but still chose the polite way of confirming. When I responded by saying that it was me, it appeared he appreciated himself for guessing so well.

While I was on the escalator, I wondered for a moment why the person had stood almost where the escalator landed at the platform of the metro station at Nagole. He may have his reasons, I told myself as I tried to walk past him.

“మీరు సుశీల్ రావు కాదనుకుంటా?” he asked in Telugu. “That is me,” I confirmed to him. He was older than me, had a poise, was gentle, and friendly.

“I recognised you but I still wanted to make sure,” he said.

“I see your posts on social media. I particularly make it a point to notice in my feed when your posts about the courses you study show up in my feed,” he said.

There was a reason why that mattered to him. As we sat on the train, he explained why that fascinated him.

Every time I posted a photograph of me with the study certificate I had earned (which is mainly from the IITs through NPTEL), he said it took him back in time.

He and his mother used to do combined studies! That is because he and his mother were both students pursuing their studies simultaneously. After her marriage and the birth of her children, she chose to further pursue her degree studies.

“It used to be very interesting. My mother and I used to discuss various subjects and she would share her knowledge with me. I would also tell her what I had studied. It was an enriching experience for both of us,” he recalled.

He recollected one particular instance where his mother’s guidance helped him do particularly well in an examination when other students were taken by surprise when questions that when expected that were expected did not come in the question paper.

The night before the examination, he was doing some last-minute study. He was reading ‘Gora’ by Rabindranath Tagore. He was appearing for his Intermediate examinations.

“What are you studying?” her mother asked him.

“Gora,” he replied.

“Sketch Gora,” is the question he said everyone told him that should be expected and therefore preparing to write about Gora. That would be a wise thing to do to attempt the 20-mark question.

His mother smiled.

It was a form of correction and guidance.

“What if 'Sketch Gora?' is not asked in the examination"?

He had no answer for her question except to say: “Every student is sure about this question and everyone is studying with a focus on that,” he answered.

“Understand me,” she said. “It goes without saying that ‘Gora’ is important but what if that particular question that you are so sure about is not asked in the question paper?” she asked.

Guiding her son, she explained that it would be important to also focus on some of the other main characters in ‘Gora’. “Even if you are not learning about them up to perfection, some knowledge with a little bit of more focus will come to your aid,” she advised him.

The son grasped the importance.

There was no ‘Sketch Gora’ in the question paper.

Instead, there was a question ‘Sketch Sucharita’ (or Sketch Lolita).

While the other students looked blank when there was no ‘Sketch Gora’, he went about answering the question with ease.

Manikumar Maddipatla's mother was right.