A film about a brother and sister who overcome superstition and study hard to get good results found echoes in the young audience at a film fest in Patna on Monday.

“I loved Ek Ajooba. After seeing it today, I have promised myself that I will study harder, instead of praying to God to help me all the time. I learnt from the film that there is no success without hardship,” said Shabnam Khatun, a Class VIII student of Bapu Smarak Balika Madhya Vidyalaya.

Directed by documentary filmmaker Sunil Advani, Ek Ajooba (2000) was the first show at the three-day Children’s Film Festival at Mona on Monday. It narrates the story of two siblings — Chitra and Ratan. Chitra wants to be a class topper but has been unable to achieve her target. She is given a pinch of “holy ash” by family friend Guruji (played by Amrish Puri). But Ratan loses the ash. The siblings then study hard and top the class.

Shabnam added: “I learnt that self confidence and hard work are the keys to success. From now, I shall not depend on prayers and superstition anymore. I shall work hard.”

Her fellow students also found the film enlightening, and identified with the characters.

“I always avoid studies, like Ratan. So, I identified with him,” said Arjun Kumar, a Class V student of Rajkiya Prathmik Vidyalaya, Rajpura.

He added: “After watching this film, I understood that if I continue to do so, I will fail in everything. So I have decided to work hard henceforth.”

Sources said around 550 students attended in the festival — organised by the state information and public relations department — on the first day. The two other films they saw were Hayat and Halo.

While inaugurating the fest, the secretary of the department, Rajesh Bhushan, said: “Around 1.5 lakh students from 37 districts of the state have already enjoyed the films of this festival.”

He added that the students of Patna, too, would enjoy the films that are scheduled over the next two days.

Film treat

Venue: Mona

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