Title of the Practice  :  Drishti 
Introduction to Language, Culture & Civilization through Film Screening. 

The learning of a foreign language involves gaining knowledge of culture and civilization of the distant communities who speak it.  Film is a unique art form. It is not merely a source of entertainment, but a powerful medium for educating citizens. The visual basis of film gives it a universal power of communication. Films are actually a 'universal language' which overcomes the barrier of textual learning for all backgrounds. 
The department conducts regular screening of Indian & Foreign films in original languages with English subtitles for the students and teachers on the university campus.

Objectives of the Practice    : 

1 To develop among the viewers an ability to hear a rich diversity of voices from the divided lands. 

2 To Bring the students and teachers together to celebrate creativity and explore new cultures, eventually  encouraging them to respect the diversity existing in the world. 

3 To organize quality programmes like discussions, workshops and interviews on appreciation of film.

4 To organize Film Festivals on significant occasions like International Women’s Day etc. to broaden the horizons of the viewers, to enrich their vision spiritually and to consolidate and maintain freedom, peace, democracy. 

The Context

The department of Foreign Languages runs regular Certificate, Diploma, Higher Diploma and M.A. courses. The process of learning Russian/ German/ Japanese/ Portuguese/ French involves teaching / learning of culture and civilization of the language. This needs a special approach and hence the practice of film screening under the title of Drishti was started by the department. The activity was firstly limited to the department, which was made open to all the students and teachers on the campus later.  

The Practice

The film screening programme Drihti has remained a unique activity in the university. A number of films recognized in the world cinema have been shown here. They include films in Russian, German, Japanese, French, English, Italian, Swedish, Iranian and Hindi languages. 

In the course of time the film screenings on a specific theme became an important aspect of Drishti. The following themes were introduced for film festivals: 

Women’s resistance, achievements and contribution to the world culture on the occasion of International Women’s Day

    Moscow does not Believe in Tears, 1980: Russian
    Invictus, 2009: American-South African
    Erin Brockovich, 2000: American
    Mirch Masala, 1981: Indian
    The Colour Purple, 1985: American
    The Hidden Figures, 2016: American

Violence on Women in the context of Nirbhaya Rape case 

    Virgin Spring, 1960: Swedish
    Mirch Masala, 1981: Indian   

The vast spectrum of Love in the context of Valentine’s Day 

    A Roman Holiday, 1953: American
    City Lights, 1931 Silent : American
    Life is Beautiful, 1997: Italian 

Films based on Literary Works

    L'Argent, 1983: French. A movie based on Leo Tolstoy’s Russian story
 

Films on Historical events

    The Cranes Are Flying, 1957: Russian
    Destiny of a Man, 1958: Russian
    Brest Fortress, 2010: Russian
    The Dawns Here Are Quiet, 2015: Russian

Documentaries 

    Lakeer ke iss taraf  (On This Side of the Line), 2019. 
       A documentary about the non violent, people's movement - Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) - which has been fighting for Adivasi people's right to proper rehabilitation for over 3 decades. 
    Red Stars Lost Behind The Mist, 2018 
       A story of Children’s books from USSR translated in Marathi. 

Some of the other films shown include: 

     The Children of Heaven, 1999: Iranian 
     Good Bye Lenin, 2003: German
     Nobody Knows, 2004: Japanese.
     Hayat, 2006: Iranian
     Postman in the Mountains, 1999: Chinese
     Peter FM, 2006: Russian

Evidence of Success

It really creates a feeling of satisfaction in the minds of organizers to see how the students and teachers come to the auditorium in groups and watch the movies with deep interest. Many viewers ask for the soft copy of the movie they liked or the link to watch it again or to suggest their friends to watch it. 
The great response of the viewers has been visible through their enthusiasm in participating in the discussion/ interaction held after the film show. The films like Mirch Masala, Hayat,  Hidden Figures and Erin Brockovich received enormous positive response as they show the realistic struggle for a cause and eventual success of the leading women characters. The audience literally gave standing ovation to these films. Some students expressed their feelings after the show and told how the film has transformed them from within. The film screenings based on specific themes open discussions on gender, human rights, environmental issues, various aspects of globalization and the changing values of the 21st century.  This widened the outlook of the viewers.