Children at Laxmi cinema and (above) kids arrive on the first day of the film festival in Samastipur. Pictures by Mohan Mahato

Ritish Kumar, a student of Class V, Government Balika Middle School, Samastipur, wants to help poor children in his town get an opportunity to study in school, like him, and do well in life.

At the tender age of 10, Ritish is motivated to reach out to people who perhaps do not have as much advantages in life as he has. The source of his motivation is a film — Bandu Boxer — he saw recently at the children’s film festival in Samastipur, organised by the state public relations department.

“I never thought a film can motivate me so much but Bandu Boxer has left an imprint on my mind. I loved the character of Bandu and his friendship with Bannu (both Bandu and Bannu are central characters in the movie Bandu Boxer). After watching the movie, I realised that if Bandu can dream of helping the poor and make his dream come true, I can also do the same,” said Ritish.

This was the first time Ritish saw a film on the big screen and now, he wants to see a few more. “Just one movie has changed my thoughts so much. I want to see movies with inspiring stories which can motivate me to do good for others,” he said.

Hundreds of other children like Ritish got a rare opportunity to watch children’s films on the big screen at Laxmi cinema in Samastipur. For a majority of the children, it was their first experience of watching films in the theatre and that, too, with the permission of their teachers.

Families in rural areas still consider films a means of negative influence on children. In an attempt to break this notion and encourage children to take inspiration from positive cinema, the state department of public relations planned the first-of-its-kind children’s film festival in the districts.

At Samastipur, eight films were scheduled to be screened for children over three days (November 18 to 20). These included Bandu Boxer, Chutkan Ki Mahabharat, Ek Ajooba, Lilkee, Halo, Malli, Hayat and Krish, Trish and Balti Boy. However, after an accident near the theatre on the second day of the fest, the event was called off and three films — Malli, Hayat and Krish, Trish and Balti Boy — could not be screened.

Many students of government middle schools and high schools, apart from some students of private schools, turned up at the festival and enjoyed the experience of watching films with their friends.

Sharing the theatre experience, Dolly Kumari, a Class VI student of Government Balika Middle School, said: “I could never imagine so many students watching a film under one roof and that too with the consent of both parents and teachers. We were also served biscuits and toffees during the screening of the films. It was the best experience so far for me.”

Like Ritish, Dolly, too, loved Bandu Boxer.

“This movie has instilled a sense of confidence in me and inspired me to work for the uplift of the poor in society. Efforts should be made to solve the problems of the poor and needy people the way Bandu helped his friend,” said Dolly. “Now, I am confident and committed to give my full attention to studies so that I can pass my exams with good marks, get a job and use my salary to help needy people,” she added.

Shakuntala Kumari, a teacher at Government Balika Middle School, was impressed with the government’s initiative to allow children to get more exposure and learn from means other than books.

“It’s an appreciable step taken by the department of public relations of screening some interesting and motivating movies for students. Screening of such motivating movies instils a sense of confidence and discipline among students,” she said.

HOT SEAT ANSWERS

Shubham Kumar
Patna Central School

Which place was actually used as Hogwarts for the shooting of the Harry Potter series?

Alnwick Castle

Which Bollywood personality once worked as a freight broker for a shipping firm in Calcutta?

Amitabh Bachchan

Which brand of mineral water has the punchline Boond Boond Mein Vishwas?

Kinley

What 8-lettered word connects Google, HP and Navneet?

Notebook

lIn the story of the life of Naina Catherine Kapur Patel, I died of cancer. Who am I?

Aman Mathur (Kal Ho Naa Ho)

Shashank Anand
Radiant International School

Among Indian mathematicians, who was the first to give the formula for the sum of squares and the cubes of natural number?

Aryabhatta

lWho quoted “mathematics is the art of saying many things in many different ways”?

James Clerk Maxwell

lWho proposed the quantum theory?

Max Planck

lWhen did Aryabhatta propose his first theory in the field of mathematics?

499 CE (Christian Era)

Sumedha Basu
St Joseph’s Convent High School

Which museum designed by George Witter was formerly known as Prince of Wales Museum?

Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Maharaj Sangrahalaya

What is the Google headquarters called?

Googleplex

Who was the first person to reach the North Pole?

Robert Edwin Peary

Who was the youngest female pilot to cross the Atlantic ocean?

Amelia Earhart

Which was the first film in which Shatrughan Sinha co-starred with Amitabh Bachhan?

Parwana (1971)

Chandrali Mukherjee
DAV Public School, BSEB

Who was the father of Ashoka the Great?

Bindusara

Where can one find hot springs in Bihar?

Rajgir

Which famous astronomer’s observatory was set up in Khagaul?

Aryabhatta

Where is the Bodhi Tree situated under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment?

Bodhgaya

Which city is the home to ancient Buddhist International University?

Nalanda

Ashwary Mishra
Radiant International School

Which country’s national anthem, apart from India, was written by Rabindranath Tagore?

Bangladesh

Sarang is the name of which weapon of Sri Krishna?

Bow

Which language is the most spoken in China?

Mandarin

Name the 13-year-old boy, who was the youngest to climb Mount Everest.

Jordan Romero

Who is the president of Planning Commission?

Prime Minister of India

Last week’s question:

VVS Laxman (in picture), recently scored 177 against West Indies in the second Test at Eden Gardens, Calcutta.

What is his highest score in Test cricket?

The correct answer for last week’s question is: 281

Readers who gave the correct answer are:

Avinash Kumar
High School, Maner

Nishit Chauhan
Class IX C
Creane Memorial High School, Gaya

This week’s question:

Identify this famous structure that became the centre of terrorist attacks on Mumbai
in November 2008.

Clue: It is a famous hotel near the Gateway of India

Readers can send their answers to ttbihar@abp.in

Remember to mention your name, address, class, school and email id with the
answers.

Please send only one answer for the question.