Cinema a potent medium of social change, says Malik

It is commonly said cinema holds a mirror to the society and it reflects back the changes in the society at the social and political level. To discuss cinema’s role in shaping social norms and fostering critical thinking, renowned film personalities, academia, and students gathered at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) here on Friday.

To mark National Cinema Day in an effective manner, the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication of the university hosted a dialogue programme to explore cinema’s multi-faceted contributions in building the society.

After a detailed conversation on various aspects of cinema, experts reached a consensus that films transcend entertainment and serve as a potent medium for social change and human development.

Veteran Haryanvi film actor Raghuvendra Malik and actress Anjvi Hooda graced the event as distinguished guest speakers. Prof Harish Kumar, Head of the Department, stated that cinema was a medium of communication closely linked to people’s lives. He highlighted cinema’s vast impact and its contribution to education apart from entertainment.

Malik shared his journey, starting with Shyam Benegal’s documentary in the 80s and his debut as a villain in the 1983 Haryanvi film Bahurani. He emphasised preserving Haryana’s cultural heritage while Anjvi discussed her film career, beginning with Bollywood actor and director Satish Kaushik’s production Hamari choriyan chhoron se kam nahi hoti.

She encouraged the audience to watch films in theatres and support the film industry. The event featured a short film with a social message, followed by an interactive session with students.