The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir is unique in many ways, such as location, topography, culture, history and natural heritage. The rugged geographical landscape, freezing winters, remote villages, sparse populace, lack of adequate infrastructure, etc, are some of the challenges that are the stumbling block in the growth journey. Youth of the state must be encouraged to take stride in the nation’s growth story through education, skill development, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The credit goes to the Indian Army that, in a difficult time, recognised the requirement to keep the youth of the erstwhile state of J&K and logically espoused the desire for a better future. Our adversary has been fomenting insurgency in J&K since1989, and the IA, under ‘Operation Sadbhavana’, has made many efforts to bring the state into the nation’s development path. The IA has undertaken many military and civic action programmes sponsored and funded by the government, aimed at ‘Winning Hearts and Minds’ of the people in areas affected by terrorism in Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Kargil, Poonch, Rajouri, Doda etc.
Operation Sadbhavana’s emphasis was on developing crucial social indices like quality education, women empowerment, community and infrastructural development, health and veterinary care, Gujjar/Bakarwals and nation-building. In addition, basic needs like water supply schemes, electrification and animal husbandry have also been given due importance.
In taking a step further, the IA has decided to launch the Dil Maange More Short Film Festival. It is a brainchild of the Northern Command of the Indian Army toward innovation for supporting the Youth of J&K and Ladakh, consistent with the perception of the honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, restating the significance of the ‘Nation Building’ process. Through this event, IA aims to Outreach, Train & Exposure through this ‘Short Film Making Festival’ as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and run up to the Mega ‘Vijay Divas-2022 celebrations’.
In association with Innovations India, the Northern Command of the Indian Army is organising the DIL MAANGE MORE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2022 (DMMSFF 2022). The DMMSFF 2022 is devoted to the independent, talented and discerning filmmakers from J&K and Ladakh who crave to showcase their deftness and craft of film-making to the world via short films. Dil Maange More Festival would serve as an effective platform to promote the talented young aspiring filmmakers of J&K and Ladakh to showcase their creativity to the world.
Captain Rahul Sudesh Bali is an Indian Army Veteran, Entrepreneur, Speaker, Curator, Film Maker and Champion of Global Cultural Exchange programmes. A well-known name in the festival circuits across the globe, Captain Rahul Bali is the curator of DIL MAANGE MORE FESTIVAL and has been doing outstanding work curating cultures globally that enormously help reinforce the bilateral relations between nations. He believes that ‘Cultural Cooperation’ always leads to ‘Commercial Cooperation’ and festivals are the best ways to accomplish cultural cooperation between India and the rest of the world.
An alumnus of the esteemed organisations, National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun. Captain Rahul Sudesh Bali is the founder and Managing Director of Innovations India, a cohesive marketing solutions and brand management company that has grown exponentially in the last 22 years to make its presence globally. He is the recipient of the prestigious Best Curator of the Indian Film Festival Abroad Award. He has successfully curated Mega Cultural Events and Indian Film Festivals in Russia, Vietnam, Poland, Hungary & Kenya.
Masterclasses by award-winning and renowned filmmakers of India like Imtiaz Ali, Rahul Mittra & Umesh Shukla will be organised in Udhampur both offline and online for the benefit of participants.
The objectives of this film festival are:
1. To empower the youth of J&K and Ladakh and create success stories to motivate others.
- Communicate the ‘good’ and ‘traction’ for a peaceful future.
- For creating & popularising positive audio-visual content to augment ‘Nation Building’.
- To nurture alternate occupations among youth.
- A communicating ‘sadbhavna’ event as part of AZADI KA AMRIT MAHOTSAV festivities.
Festival Themes: There are total three themes for this film festival.
Theme 1: Nation Building / Rashtra Nirman. The suggested topics included in this theme are:
a) Success stories of J&K and Ladakh
b) Achievers of J&K and Ladakh
c) Any other topic relating to Nation Building/Rashtra Nirman
Theme 2 Change / Badlav. The proposed topics under this theme are:
a) Reflections of new India from J&K and Ladakh
b) Stories depicting positive changes in J&K and Ladakh
c) Any other topic relating to Change / Badlav
Theme 3: Distinguished India / Shresth Bharat: The topics included in this theme are:
a) Symbols of national glory from J&K and Ladakh
b) Stories depicting cultural & religious harmony in J&K and Ladakh
c) Any story related to this theme.
Prizes & Awards
The DMMSFF 2022 is a competitive short film-making festival wherein the top 3 winners will be awarded cash prizes, trophies and merit certificates by the Indian Army. The Winners would get a golden opportunity to be a part of renowned film production houses in Mumbai under the mentorship of acclaimed filmmakers of India like Imtiaz Ali, Umesh Shukla & Rahul Mittra. The winning ‘Short Films’ would also be screened at International Indian Film Festivals across the globe, which would catapult the talented young filmmakers into the international limelight.
Conclusion: Education is at the root of all human progress. Our modern times are characterised by rapid global transformation hastened by education. The most essential and challenging thing is recognising and constantly updating one’s skills & knowledge in this complex, dynamic, evolving, but the interconnected world. Notwithstanding the upheavals and stagnation of the past centuries, a new awakening is drawing upon India. Therefore, the Idea of India has come and must lead the global community through self-awakening & self-empowerment. If India has to lead the world, then definitely the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be left behind.
The Indian Army has made significant efforts in the nation-building process. Northern Command forefronts the endeavours in J&K and Ladakh to empower the people under ‘Operation Sadbhavana’. Through DMMSFF-2022, the Indian Army is opening avenues for the youth to harness their talent to work in the film industry. While promoting scenic beauty, the policy provides a platform for local artists to apply and prove themselves nationally and internationally. This has generated fresh hope among local filmmakers and artists that the policy would generate employment opportunities for them and rejuvenate old connections with Bollywood.
Besides providing an entertaining experience to its viewers, movies are proven to have psychological effects: positive impact on your overall health, boosts the immune system, stress buster, creates bonding, make us more creative, etc. Movies are not just a form of entertainment. They often teach us lessons and help us deal with difficult situations. Also, films could portray our culture and heritage, which resides in our society, to the rest of the world. Hence this is an excellent step undertaken by the Indian Army to empower the youth of J&K and Ladakh.