**Policy Summary:**
The Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Delhi Teachers University and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), held a screening of the award-winning short film "Selfie Please" at the IGNCA's Samvet Auditorium on August 29, 2025. The film addresses the sensitive topic of family dynamics when one sibling has Down Syndrome, exploring themes of neglect and parental attention. The event included addresses by theatre expert Malavika Joshi and Vice Chancellor of Delhi Teachers University, Prof. Anu Singh Lather, who emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between higher education and theatre/media. Following the screening, a panel discussion was held on "The Myth of a Normal Family," featuring the film's writer/director Anu Singh Chaudhary, actress Sarika Singh, Malavika Joshi, and iCANthink founder Deepa Garwa, moderated by Dr. Sanjeev Rai, Registrar of Delhi Teachers University. The event concluded with a Q&A session and was intended to promote a fresh perspective on family, society, and personal identity. Anurag Punetha, Head of IGNCAs Media Centre, delivered the vote of thanks. For further information, contact Sunil Kumar Tiwari at pibcultureatgmaildotcom, Release ID: 2162095.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry responsible for preserving and promoting art and culture.
Selfie Please: An International Award-Winning Short Film screened at IGNCA.
Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA): An autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, serving as a major resource centre for the arts.
Delhi Teachers University: A university in Delhi, India, that collaborated with IGNCA for the film screening.
Anu Singh Chaudhary: The writer and director of the film 'Selfie Please'.
Malavika Joshi: A theatre expert and academician who addressed the inaugural session.
Anu Singh Lather: Vice Chancellor of Delhi Teachers University.
Sarika Singh: Actress who participated in the panel discussion.
Ministry of Culture
Screening of International Award-Winning Film
'Selfie Please' Held at IGNCA
Posted On: 29 AUG 2025 9:41PM by PIB Delhi
Delhi Teachers University, in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA),
organized a special screening of the nationally and internationally acclaimed short film 'Selfie Please’ at the
IGNCA’s Samvet Auditorium. The film portrays the story of a family where the elder sister has Down
Syndrome, leading the younger sister to feel neglected, believing that their mother gives more attention to the
elder sibling. The film’s writer and director, Anu Singh Chaudhary, has presented this sensitive theme with
great emotional depth.
The inaugural session was addressed by theatre expert and academician Malavika Joshi and Vice Chancellor
of Delhi Teachers University, Prof. Anu Singh Lather. Malavika Joshi stated that the subject of the film is
deeply sensitive, and the way the phrase ‘Selfie Please’ is written on the poster conveys a powerful message.
She remarked that the 15-minute film has the potential to change one’s perspective on life. Prof. Anu Singh
Lather emphasized, “It is our responsibility to bridge the disconnect between higher education and
theatre/media. From this platform, I urge theatre and media professionals to engage with universities. Students
are highly enthusiastic, and collaborating with them will be a rewarding experience for you.”
Director Anu Singh Chaudhary shared that making this film took considerable time, as a director can only
make choices when they possess both personal experience as a human being and the freedom to narrate a
story in their own way.
At the conclusion of the program, Anurag Punetha, Head of IGNCA’s Media Centre, delivered the vote of
thanks, stating that the film not only sensitizes us as human beings but also educates us.
Following the screening, a special discussion was held on the theme 'The Myth of a Normal Family’. The
panel featured film writer-director Anu Singh Chaudhary, actress Sarika Singh, Malavika Joshi, and
iCANthink founder Deepa Garwa, who all shared their insights. The discussion was moderated by Dr.
Sanjeev Rai, Registrar of Delhi Teachers University, with a thematic introduction presented by Sahar Baig.
This was followed by a Q\&A session, during which the panelists answered audience questions related to thefilm.
The audience found both the film’s message and the subsequent discussion to be highly relevant and inspiring.
This event marks a meaningful initiative in the fields of art and education, offering a fresh perspective on
family, society, and personal identity.
****
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com
(Release ID: 2162095)