IFFI 2021: Society should take responsibility for children’s development, says Shoorveer Tyagi

Shoorveer Tyagi’s short film Jaadoo portrays the world of children, their emotions and thinking. A comment on the education system that often stifles the creativity and imagination integral to a child’s mind, the film examines the world of two young girls studying in a village school. The film was screened at the 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

Jaadoo review: A comment on regimented learning and the power of imagination

Speaking at a press conference following the screening, the filmmaker said, “Every kid or student is like a bottle with a different shape and a different lid. When they fail to learn, in the end, the blame should not go to them but the teachers and society who failed to open the lid and pour something inside the bottle.” 

Emphasizing the role of society in shaping a child’s mind, he said, “Besides education and learning, there are many things which are needed to be imbibed in a child. The responsibility of grooming a child is not limited to parents or teachers. In the larger sense, that responsibility lies with society as a whole. But, at the same time, it’s also true that parents are the first teachers of kids. They should be capable of understanding the internal world of kids. To make kids understand what we are trying to imbibe in them, we need to first go to their level and reach the bottom of their heart. For that, we need to understand their language.”

Tyagi conducts theatre and acting workshops for children and the film emerged from his experience there. While sharing some of his learnings, the filmmaker also spoke about the integral role of grandparents, saying, “There is a saying that when an old man dies, a library of thousand books is burnt. The grandparents with immense wisdom play a great role in shaping the kid. We need to go back to our roots and bridge generation gaps. When there is a connection between old and new generations, good values seep in on their own.”