Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau

5th Chandigarh Music and Film Festival concludes at Chandigarh University

Legendary Director Rahul Rawail Questions Indian Cinema’s Oscar Obsession, says ‘Oscar Awards as Corrupt as Indian Awards’

Babushahi Bureau

Mohali (Punjab), 29 April, 2025 -- The 5th Chandigarh Music & Film Festival (CMFF) 2025, organised by Real Foundation in association with Chandigarh University concluded on Tuesday with the presence of famous actors and filmmakers making it a celebration of the universal power of cinema to inspire, connect, and transform lives.

The film stars who attended the film festival on the concluding day included legendaryfilmmakerr, Rahul Rawail, actor Inaamulhaq, actor Manish Wadhwa and renowned Sufi Singer Sultana Nooran. 

To celebrate and recognise exceptional digital creators who are driving impactful change across diverse sectors, Influencers Awards were also given to six social media influencers and content creators including Rahul Goyal, Vivek Chaudhary, Shalini Ranyal, Galcy, Vageesha Bahel and Akshi Sharma whose work exemplifies creativity, dedication, and positive impact. 

The concluding day of the Chandigarh Music & Film Festival  began with the Premiere of five films including Saumitra Singh directed ‘The Wallet’  which revolves around two characters who find a wallet full of money, director Alessandro Magnabosco’s film ‘The Star Who Fell To Earth’ which follows an extraterrestrial who crash-lands on Earth seeking a way to ship water to his planet, Sanjay Kumar’s ‘Life Inside of Homeless Family’ which has been shot in Haryana and Sanjay Charan’s movie ‘The Shoes I Wore’ which is about a lone survivor, grappling with the cyclical nature of his experiences navigating a world that resets time. 

This apart, premiere of three other movies was also held today including  Vicky Khandpur’s ‘KAL AAJ AUR KAL which revolves around a family, where an NRI boy learns how his family - Grandfather, Father and Mother had their challenges and learnings, Pavitra Verma’s IPSA which shows a housewife’s struggles with infertility, leading her husband to bring a second wife into their home and Musafir Bunny’s film ‘ Two Lines’ which is a story of a modern family.

The grand premiere of these films was not just a showcase of cinematic excellence but was further enhanced by a series of captivating Talk Sessions with legendary film director, Rahul Rawail, the immensely talented actor Inamul Haq, the distinguished and versatile actor Manish Wadhwa, and the renowned Sufi singer Sultana Nooran.

Chandigarh University Dedicated to Promoting Arts and Culture, says Senior Managing Director Deep Inder Singh Sandhu

Reaffirming the university’s strong commitment to fostering arts and cultural engagement, Deep Inder Singh Sandhu, Senior Managing Director of Chandigarh University, said, “Chandigarh University has always championed the promotion of arts and cultural activities. We firmly believe that art and culture are essential pillars in the advancement of any society.

This Festival serves as a platform not only to bring together renowned artists and professionals from the film industry, but also opens doors for emerging technicians, creators, and students.

It is a unique opportunity to educate, engage, and inspire young minds across all facets of the industry. Through initiatives like this festival, Chandigarh University aims to equip the next generation of artists and professionals with the skills and confidence they need to turn their creative dreams into reality,”. 

Highlights of Talk Show with film director Rahul Rawail

Indian Cinema I Has Arrived on the World Stage, Is Now Watched Across the Globe, says Filmmaker Rahul Rawail 

Legendary film maker, Rahul Rawail, who has made hit films such as Love Story ,Betaab, Arjun, Dacait, Anjaam, Arjun Pandit and Jo Bole So Nihaal said, “Indian movies are making a mark at the global level and people like Scorsese (American filmmaker Martin Charles Scorsese) are all talking about Indian cinema.They are praising and quoting the Hindi songs and films. It’s all happening. Why we have complex of the Oscars. It’s nothing. It’s like any India film awards. And Oscar awards are as corrupt as our awards. The Cannes awards are also corrupt.  Everybody (film awards) are corrupt. A film director like Alfred Hitchcock (who was nominated for Best Director five times, but somehow never won the prize) never received an Oscar. Today Indian cinema is looked upon by the people from all over the world,”. 

On growing popularity of OTT platforms as compared to Cinema, Rawail said, “Cinema will always stay, OTT and other forms of audio visual cinema will also stay. The impression that OTT is taking over (the entertainment industry) is just perception,”. 

Highlights of Talk Show with Actor Manish Wadhwa 

Gadar 2 Fame Actor Manish Wadhwa says Actors Deserve More Than Just One Mold, Calls for Creative Freedom Beyond Stereotyped Roles

Actor Manish Wadhwa said his portrayal of the General in Gadar 2 was a game-changer.

He, however, expressed concern over typecasting. “Once audiences fix an image of you, it’s hard to break it. After Gadar 2, I kept receiving similar offers. It was refreshing to take on something different in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Deva. But in this industry, if you keep refusing the same kind of roles, and no new ones come, survival becomes tough. That’s the reality. The fun is when you have a director and creative in front of you, they want to see you in other roles as well. I believe that even if eight people play generals, each should bring a unique personality. That’s where the craft truly lies. People often associate me with Chanakya or similar intense characters, but I’ve poured the same dedication into roles in Peshwa Bajirao, Time Machine, and Deva," he said.

On the reports that Bollywood movie ‘Abir Gulal’ featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan-starrer Abir Gulal  will not be released in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack, Wadha said, “Although art has no boundaries, but humanity is also something,”.

Highlights of Talk Show with Actor Inaamulhaq

“Artistic Freedom Needs Accountability" says Actor Inaamulhaq Stressing Artistic Accountability in OTT Platforms Amid Censorship Debate

Regional Cinema Stays Rooted, Hindi Films Now All About Remakes and Revenue, says Actor Inaamulhaq

  Actor Inaamulhaq, who is known for his versatility in portraying challenging characters, said, “Regional films are deeply rooted in culture and are made on modest budgets. I always say—while the budget of one Bollywood song could fund a regional film, they manage to make and release three movies with that same amount. Regional cinema has been consistent—strong in the past and still performing well today. In contrast, Hindi cinema, which once thrived, is now struggling because it’s caught in the grip of corporatization. It’s become more about business than storytelling. OTT platforms have hit a saturation point. That’s why we’re seeing audiences return to theatres, even without aggressive promotions. People miss the experience of cinema on the big screen. Cinema has never died, and it never will. We produce nearly 2,000 films a year—more than any other country—but only a handful truly stand out in terms of quality. If we focus on quality control and strong storytelling, especially in Hindi cinema, we can achieve greatness globally, just like South Indian cinema, which continues to set a benchmark with its content.”

On the issue of censorship for OTT, Inaamulhaq, "Since OTT content is seen through use of internet, censorship should extend to the internet as well. But beyond external regulation, self-awareness and parental guidance also play a critical role. Cinema is traditionally considered an art form, but much of the content created for OTT doesn’t reflect that. If you consider it a space for artistic expression, then it must also carry artistic responsibility. There needs to be a balance between creative freedom and accountability—only then can censorship be meaningful."

“OTT has been a great platform for actors who were previously side-lined in mainstream cinema. However, beyond that, I don't think OTT platforms have achieved much,” he added.