Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Sep 18: 'Manaviyate', a Kannada documentary film was released by superintended of police (SP) Annamalai at Press Club here on Friday September 18. The film aims to create awareness on the importance of responding to accidents and helping victims, rather than clicking photos of the mishap on mobile phones and sharing on social media.
The film has been produced by Surendra Marpalli with the help of eleven other youths. This is the first attempt made by the youths of coastal region to create awareness on the need to respond to accidents and also on the adverse impact of excessive use of mobile phones and social media.
Addressing the media, SP Annamalai said, "I was planning to make a short film on drunken driving, rash riding and riding without helmets. A week ago, this creative team approached me and proposed this film. Finally it is on screen. I appreciate their team work as well as hardwork in bringing out this documentary film."
Regarding road accidents, the SP further said, "The first one hour of an accident is the golden hour. Public should come forward to help victims first, instead of taking photos and uploading them on social media."
SP Annamalai clarified about the inconvenience caused to witnesses of the accidents and said, "The first eyewitness is always the independent evidence. He will have two options; first, he himself can confess as witness or he can refuse to be present at the court. If a person has no interest to come to the court, then no one can force him to stand as first witness. There is a need to bring some amendments in judicial system. India is still lagging behind in showing humanity.
"In 2014, a total of 1.4 lac people lost their lives in accidents across India. In the district approximately 787 accident cases have been reported till July 2015, out of which 128 cases were fatal, 659 were non-fatal, 131 people died and 904 were injured. Hence, for safety of riders, the police department has decided to make helmetscompulsory for college students from October 1."
Impressed by the film, SP Annamalai informed that he was planning to make short films on social awareness in future. He wished the team good luck.
The team was inspired to make this short film by Soori Shetty from Kaup who helps injured people during accidents.
Soori Shetty in his message urged people to save accident victims' lives by rushing to their help.
The shooting was done in Udupi city and it took one week for its completion. Shiroor Math's Laxmivarateertha Swamiji blessed the film crew.
At the end of the documentary, SP Annamalai speaks on safe driving. The traffic police helped the film crew for the smooth shooting of the film. Surendra Paniyur is the cinematographer of the documentary film.
Pradeep Shetty Kukkikatte, Sujith, Deepak, Uday Kulal, Mahesh Shetty, Hitesh Anchan, Sudhir Shet, Rithesh, Deekshit, Ashok Bhat, Yashvanth, Sumant Soori Shetty, Manjunath Marpalli, Arun and Ravi have acted in the film.
The duration of the documentary film is fifteen minutes and the total budget was Rs 25,000.