HYDERABAD: A set of five DVDs containing three children‘s films each from the archives of the Children‘s Film Society, India, was released here today by CFSI chairperson Nandita Das.

Speaking on the occasion, she said that the CFSI has 250 films in its library including some acquired films. Films made by CFSI are also being dubbed in other Indian languages with the help of a Pune-based organisation.

CFSI CEO Sushovan Banerjee said the CFSI had restored 21 old films as part of the National Heritage Mission of the Government. 17 or 18 of these were marketable and therefore these would be brought out in DVDs.

The number of DVDs would be doubled in the next phase and all the films would be out in DVDs within two or three years. The DVDs had been brought out in collaboration with Shemaroo. They were priced at Rs 399 for three films in one DVD, Rs 299 for two films in a DVD and Rs 149 for single films in a DVD.

Reacting to a question relating to content not suitable for kids in some of the films being exhibited at the 17th International Children‘s Film Festival, Das and Banerjee said at a press meet here that children today know more about life than we had known as young people. Each screening committee had educators amongst the members and they had approved these films.

Banerjee said the aim of showing films from overseas is to let children learn about other cultures.

Das said the aim of the selection process of the films at the 17th ICFF is to ensure fun films that served as an alternative to the sordid programming that children are forced to see in the home on television whose remote is in the hands of the elders. Films that appeared to be preaching are not preferred, though all films taught something.

She said she had understood the relevance of children‘s film during her two years at the CFSI.