BMC marches to educate students on suicides

The civic body on Friday released a 17-minute educational film on the rising number of student suicides, but does not know what to do with it.

The civic body on Friday released a 17-minute educational film on the rising number of student suicides, but does not know what to do with it.

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Not only is it too long to be shown in theatres, it has also released at a time when exams have begun and students have no time to watch it in their school.

The film is called March.

Asked what the BMC intends to do with the film, Mustafa Raj, producer and director of the film, said, “We are yet to look for media partners after which we can distribute it and think of putting it up on Youtube and the Internet. We cannot show it in theatres as it is a bit long for that slot.”

“We plan to show it in all the civic schools and will also ask private schools to show it. It educates students and parents on the stress and strain of education,” he said.

The film is said to be the brainchild of corporator Dr Ram Barot, who is the chairman of the BMC’s education committee.

“Since there have been an increasing number of student suicides, we thought an educational film will bring to light the fact that students and parents should not lose hope due to the stress of studies,” Barot said.

Asked if it was too late to release the film, Barot said, “There are certain technicalities that we had to clear like getting a censor certificate which delayed the entire process.”

He said he had just given an amount of Rs 1 lakh for the film and the rest of the cost was taken care by the filmmakers.