Happy over kids' films judged by kids' jury: Filmmaker Seemaa Desai

Filmmaker Seemaa Desai, who helmed the entertaining 'Pappu Ki Pugdandi', India's official entry to the kids section at the Toronto International Film Festival 2015, says she is happy that the trend of judging children's films by a jury comprising children alone is catching up in India

Filmmaker Seemaa Desai, who helmed the entertaining 'Pappu Ki Pugdandi', India's official entry to the kids section at the Toronto International Film Festival 2015, says she is happy that the trend of judging children's films by a jury comprising children alone is catching up in India.

Seemaa Desai

"It's happening internationally and now in India. I think it's good because children can understand what they want from a film better and also because they will dissect it from a children's perspective," Desai told the media at the 21st Kolkata International Film Festival on Monday.

Desai lauded the 17th edition of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival for having a selection of children's films judged by a children's jury.

"Pappu Ki Pugdandi", produced by the Children's Film Society of India (CFSI), tells the story of Pappu, hailing from a lower middle-class family who faces adjustment issues in his new school and his interactions with a genie hoping to solve all his problems.

The message conveyed by the movie is there are no shortcuts to happiness and one must learn to identify his or her strengths.

Desai said she prefers to stay away from "preachy" or "dark tones" in films for children.

"I don't want children's films to have dark tones or be too preachy. It should be fun to watch for the kids and at the same time drive home a message. So my film has songs and dances and fight sequences," Desai said.

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