Prakash Kamat
Panaji,November 25-The golden edition of the International Film Festival of India(IFFI) is also noted for its pursuit of inclusiveness. Three films for those with special needs are being screened at IFFI under the ‘Accessible India-Accessible Films’ section.
Sakhsham Trust, a Delhi based NGO working in the field of empowerment of persons with total visual impairement and low vision is making this possible along with the collaboration of IFFI and UNESCO.
Accessibility of cinema was the central focus of discussion when the founders of Saksham Trust Dipendra Manocha spoke to me on Monday at the IFFI venue.
Later in the evening Rummi K. Seth, Technical expert Narendra Joshi explained the project undertaken by Sakhsam to make films inclusive for all.
Mr. Manocha said that making movies accessible to visually impaired people will send out the message of inclusion. "Accessibility is not only about making buildings accessible. Movies are one of the best entertainment opportunities available for the society. Making movies accessible will create a whole experience of being part of society and be felt that our rights are acknowledged," he said.
In order to ensure more films are easily accessible, Dipendra said, "We need to have the heart in the right place. It has to become a norm in the film industry. "
Sakhsham co-founder Rammi Seth said, "Over the years, the importance of education for the differently-abled has been realised. But entertainment too is important for visually impaired people.”
Narendra Joshi, technical expert of Saksham, explained the process of getting a movie ready with audio descriptions."Audio description isn't a commentary but a technique so that everyone can understand”, he explained.
Saksham Trust supported by Publicis Sapient joined hands with IFFI to present a audio-describe three-movie event at the ongoing IFFI.
"Questao de Cofusao" happened to be the first-ever language movie to be screened in a audio-description format,on Monday.
Mr. Manocha said that for last two years Publicis Sapient has supported their project of making multiple movies audio-descriptive.
He explained that the process includes an additional narration that translates images, visual information, non-dialogue portions of films/media into spoken words and subtitles
so that the people who are visually and/or visual impaired can access,enjoy and learn from the works of popular culture and educational importance.
He said in reply to a question that Publicis Sapient helped Saksham make 19 movies audio-describing form,which included feature films, shirt films, documentaries,children's films and regional language films.
Saksham co-fiubdercwho himself is 100 per cent visually impaired said that they have taken up with Producers' Guild of Indian Film Industry the concept to make the audio description a part of film making so that it is self-sustaining aspect of film industry.
He said that more than 10 moviews were made accessible by Saksham in the year 2018.
Making a forceful plea for accessible movie-making, Mr. Manocha said that India continues to be home to 10 million persons with visual and hearing disabilities per 2011 Census. He felt that the figure could be much more higher by now. As for instance, he said that UNESCO puts the visually impaired people's number at 50 million in India.Accessibility of cinema is,therefore, the need of the hour.
This is a huge constituency which needs to be served for entertainment and education, said Mr Manocha.
He also pointed out that in India, movie viewing is often a family celebration and,therefore,making accessible movies and other digital entertainment content will go in a big way in mainstreaming the people with disability.
He explained that through this initiative that enables to enjoy cinema together with their loved ones,without waiting for them to explain what is happenning on the screen.
Long way to go for achieving the inclusiveness,but such initiatives are,undoubtedly, strides in right direction.
(eom)
(Interviewing Mr. Dipendra Manocha at the Accessible Film event at IFFI 2019, in Panaji on November 25,2019)
Panaji,November 25-The golden edition of the International Film Festival of India(IFFI) is also noted for its pursuit of inclusiveness. Three films for those with special needs are being screened at IFFI under the ‘Accessible India-Accessible Films’ section.
Sakhsham Trust, a Delhi based NGO working in the field of empowerment of persons with total visual impairement and low vision is making this possible along with the collaboration of IFFI and UNESCO.
Later in the evening Rummi K. Seth, Technical expert Narendra Joshi explained the project undertaken by Sakhsam to make films inclusive for all.
Mr. Manocha said that making movies accessible to visually impaired people will send out the message of inclusion. "Accessibility is not only about making buildings accessible. Movies are one of the best entertainment opportunities available for the society. Making movies accessible will create a whole experience of being part of society and be felt that our rights are acknowledged," he said.
In order to ensure more films are easily accessible, Dipendra said, "We need to have the heart in the right place. It has to become a norm in the film industry. "
Sakhsham co-founder Rammi Seth said, "Over the years, the importance of education for the differently-abled has been realised. But entertainment too is important for visually impaired people.”
Narendra Joshi, technical expert of Saksham, explained the process of getting a movie ready with audio descriptions."Audio description isn't a commentary but a technique so that everyone can understand”, he explained.
Saksham Trust supported by Publicis Sapient joined hands with IFFI to present a audio-describe three-movie event at the ongoing IFFI.
"Questao de Cofusao" happened to be the first-ever language movie to be screened in a audio-description format,on Monday.
Mr. Manocha said that for last two years Publicis Sapient has supported their project of making multiple movies audio-descriptive.
He explained that the process includes an additional narration that translates images, visual information, non-dialogue portions of films/media into spoken words and subtitles
so that the people who are visually and/or visual impaired can access,enjoy and learn from the works of popular culture and educational importance.
He said in reply to a question that Publicis Sapient helped Saksham make 19 movies audio-describing form,which included feature films, shirt films, documentaries,children's films and regional language films.
Saksham co-fiubdercwho himself is 100 per cent visually impaired said that they have taken up with Producers' Guild of Indian Film Industry the concept to make the audio description a part of film making so that it is self-sustaining aspect of film industry.
He said that more than 10 moviews were made accessible by Saksham in the year 2018.
Making a forceful plea for accessible movie-making, Mr. Manocha said that India continues to be home to 10 million persons with visual and hearing disabilities per 2011 Census. He felt that the figure could be much more higher by now. As for instance, he said that UNESCO puts the visually impaired people's number at 50 million in India.Accessibility of cinema is,therefore, the need of the hour.
This is a huge constituency which needs to be served for entertainment and education, said Mr Manocha.
He also pointed out that in India, movie viewing is often a family celebration and,therefore,making accessible movies and other digital entertainment content will go in a big way in mainstreaming the people with disability.
He explained that through this initiative that enables to enjoy cinema together with their loved ones,without waiting for them to explain what is happenning on the screen.
Long way to go for achieving the inclusiveness,but such initiatives are,undoubtedly, strides in right direction.
(eom)
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