Chandigarh University hosts 10th CU Media Fest 2026, bringing together students from 30+ institutions
Over 15 competitions in filmmaking, photography, live reporting, advertising and other creative disciplines; actor Shobhinaw Satyaa and leading media professionals attend the event
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, November 1, 2026: Bringing together aspiring media professionals from universities across the country, Chandigarh University hosted its 10th CU Media Fest 2026, featuring more than 15 competitions in filmmaking, photography, advertising, live reporting, radio jockeying, storytelling, stand-up comedy and news reading.
Organised by the University Institute of Media Studies (UIMS), Chandigarh University, the two-day event provided a platform for students to showcase their creativity, communication skills and innovation through various media-related competitions.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Chief Guest Ramesh Vinayak, Executive Editor, Hindustan Times, Chandigarh; actor and filmmaker Shobhinaw Satyaa, who portrayed spiritual guru Neem Karoli Baba in the film Hanuman Ansh; Rajiee M Shinde, CEO, PTC Entertainment; Prof. (Dr.) R.S. Bawa, Advisor to the Chancellor, Chandigarh University; and Prof. (Dr.) Ashita Chadha, Executive Director, UILAH, Chandigarh University.
Students from more than 30 universities and educational institutions across Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal participated in the competitions, with cash prizes worth over Rs 1 lakh at stake.
The competitions included short film and documentary making, photography, debate, advertising, live reporting, radio jockeying, storytelling, stand-up comedy, collage making, video editing, news reading, declamation and quiz.
As part of the festival, a panel discussion on “Is AI Reshaping the Future of Media?” was also organised. The discussion featured senior journalist and news anchor Richa Anirudh; Dr Rupesh Kumar Singh, Head of Corporate Affairs, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, Adani Group; Shayda Bano, Deputy Editor, Dainik Bhaskar; and Lalit K Sharma, CEO, Mantrin Advertising.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Ramesh Vinayak said India’s strong democratic foundations were among the country’s greatest achievements and that the media had played an important role in sustaining democracy.
Drawing a distinction between traditional journalism and social media, he said unverified information could quickly go viral on social media, while traditional media followed checks and balances to distinguish factual reporting from misinformation and propaganda.
He emphasised the importance of newspapers in providing credible information and urged aspiring media professionals to remain curious.
“Curiosity is the engine of creativity. If you are curious, you will go places. There is no instant formula or shortcut to success. There are plenty of opportunities for the right people with the right skill set and the right attitude. There is no dearth of opportunities in this country,” he said.
Prof. (Dr.) R.S. Bawa, Advisor to the Chancellor, Chandigarh University, said the media was not merely a means of disseminating news but also played a crucial role in safeguarding people’s rights and shaping the nation’s vision and direction.
He said journalism had the power to shape public opinion and therefore required fearlessness, impartiality, truthfulness and a strong sense of responsibility.
“Priority should be given to facts and balance rather than sensationalism,” he said.
Competition Winners
In the Short Film and Documentary Making competition, Banasthali Vidyapith, Rajasthan, secured first position, while Manav Rachna University, Haryana, and RIMT University, Punjab, finished second and third, respectively.
In Live Reporting, Jasmine and Amanat from Chitkara University won first prize, followed by Yashika and Tanisha from Shoolini University in second place and Ramandeep and Vishal from Mata Gujari College in third place.
In the Radio Jockey competition, Palkin from Shoolini University secured first position, while Harman from Chitkara University finished second. In Photography, Dowesh from Shoolini University won first prize, followed by Anuj from JECRC University and Deepti from RIMT University in second and third positions, respectively.
In Storytelling, Palkin from Shoolini University secured first position, while Jasleen from Mata Gujari College and Himanshu from Chandigarh University finished second and third, respectively.
In the Nukkad Natak competition, Mata Gujari College’s team ‘Awaaz-e-Inquilaab’ won first prize. Chandigarh University’s Atrangi team secured second position, while Chitkara University finished third.
In the AD-MAD competition, Mata Gujari College won first prize, followed by Chitkara University in second place.
In Stand-up Comedy and Poetry, Poras from Shoolini University won first prize, Mannat from Chitkara University secured second position and Taranjeet from Mata Gujari College finished third.
In Debate, Divnoor from DAV College, Chandigarh, won first prize, followed by Gurinyat from Government Home Science College, Chandigarh, in second place and Ramandeep from Mata Gujari College in third place.
In the Declamation contest, Nandini from DAV College, Chandigarh, secured first position, while Taranjeet from Mata Gujari College and Jagriti from SGGS College, Chandigarh, won second and third positions, respectively.
In News Reading, Saachi from Chitkara University won first prize, Madhu from Lovely Professional University (LPU) secured second position and Vaidehi from Mata Gujari College finished third.
In Collage Making, Manya Mahajan from Chitkara University’s team ‘Mish Mosh’ won first position, followed by Rishit from Government Home Science College, Chandigarh, in second place and Kajal Bawa from Chandigarh University in third place.
In Video Editing, Sudhanshu from Chitkara University secured first position, while Ramandeep from Mata Gujari College finished second.
In Caption Writing, Jaspal from Mata Gujari College won first prize, Sherya from Chitkara University secured second position and Kajal Bawa from Chandigarh University finished third.
In the Quiz competition, Bhargav and Amand from Chandigarh University won first position. Paawani and Anubhav from Chitkara University secured second prize, while Ankita and Sourin Basu from Shoolini University finished third.
‘I Have No Fear of Being Typecast in Spiritual Roles’: Hanuman Ansh Actor Shobhinaw Satyaa
Actor Shobhinaw Satyaa, who played spiritual guru Neem Karoli Baba, popularly known as Maharaj Ji, in director Vishal Chaturvedi’s film Hanuman Ansh, said he was not concerned about being typecast in spiritual or mythological roles following the film’s success.
Speaking on the sidelines of CU Media Fest 2026, organised by the University Institute of Media Studies at Chandigarh University, Satyaa said audiences had become more aware and understanding of the nature of cinema, making it easier for actors to explore different roles after portraying religious or spiritual figures.
He said that in the past, actors who portrayed epic characters, divine figures or spiritual saints were often typecast and not considered for other roles.
“Earlier, there was a perception that actors who played certain spiritual or mythological characters could not be accepted in other roles. But audiences today understand the medium much better. The entire world is literally in the palm of our hands, so things have certainly changed. If I deliver a similar quality of performance in another film, the audience will surely appreciate it,” he said.
Reflecting on the success of Hanuman Ansh, Satyaa said there was no shortcut to achieving success and that hard work and patience remained essential, irrespective of the opportunities one received.
“There are no shortcuts to success. From my own perspective, it might initially have seemed like I had taken a shortcut — going from being an assistant director to suddenly becoming the lead actor in a film that reached such great heights. But, upon reflection, I realise that isn’t the case at all. You never know when, or through which path, God might grant you success. However, you must still put in the work and effort. Patience is absolutely essential,” he said.
Talking about his portrayal of Neem Karoli Baba, the actor said his devotion to Lord Hanuman and Baba Neem Karoli had influenced his personal conduct and professional choices.
“I have been a devotee of Lord Hanuman since childhood, and it is through his blessings, along with the blessings of Baba Neem Karoli, that I have reached this point. Because of this devotion, I have maintained a certain standard of conduct and ensure that my work never crosses certain boundaries,” he said.
On the much-anticipated sequel to Hanuman Ansh, Satyaa said he was eagerly looking forward to the next instalment, both as an actor associated with the first film and as a devotee.
He said director Vishal Chaturvedi would be able to provide more clarity on the sequel’s timeline but indicated that the follow-up was part of the film’s larger narrative.
“The story itself is truly special, so a follow-up is inevitable. As for exactly when it will arrive, that is something our director can share,” he said.