MDU to have centre of excellence in sports, says minister Gautam
The Haryana Film Festival aims at promoting Haryanvi culture and gives direction to the talented youth of the state. This was stated by Haryana Minister of State for Youth Empowerment, Entrepreneurship and Sports Gaurav Gautam while inaugurating Haryana Film Festival-2025 at Tagore Auditorium of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) in Rohtak on Friday.
The minister emphasised on the development of Haryana’s film industry while inaugurating the two-day film festival organised under the aegis of Cine Foundation, Haryana, Vishwa Samvad Kendra and the MDU.
Gautam exhorted the youth to join sports and arts and stay away from drug addiction.
“The Sports Ministry will set up a centre of excellence on MDU campus, which will prove to be a milestone," the minister stated.
He also announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for the film festival.
In his address, MDU Vice-Chancellor Prof Rajbir Singh said films are not only a means of entertainment, but they are also a powerful medium to bring social and cultural change in society.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) regional publicity head Anil Kumar underlined the importance of making positive films.
“Films should provide solutions to the problems faced by society, apart from highlighting the historical events," he observed.
Addressing the gathering, noted screenwriter Advaita Kala said through films, one could bring the script on stage and share one’s thoughts with the audience.
The Director of National School of Drama, Chittaranjan Tripathi, observed that drama showed the mirror to society and made cinema sensitive.
Local industrialist Rajesh Jain said films give shape to imagination and left a deep impact on society.
Dr Markandey Ahuja, the president of Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Haryana, stated that the film festival would give a new vision to the Haryanvi film industry.
Two master classes were organised on the first day of the film festival.
The first master class, which focused on the topic ‘Script to cinema’, was conducted by Advaita Kala, secretary of Bharatiya Chitra Sadhna Atul Gangwar and noted producer-director Manish Saini.
The second master class focused on the role of songs and music in the development of Haryanvi culture.
This master class was conducted by cultural artistes Mahavir Kaushik, Padma Shri Mahavir Guddu and Maha Singh Poonia.
Several Haryanvi films were screened on the first day of the festival.
A poster exhibition depicting the journey of the Haryanvi film industry was also organised to mark the occasion.
Haryana Tribune