The Chambal region in India, particularly the Chambal ravines, straddling across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, has often been portrayed in Bollywood movies due to its rugged and picturesque landscape, as well as its historical association with bandits and outlaws. The ravines have a history of being associated with bandits and outlaws. In the past, it was a notorious haven for criminal gangs who used the rugged terrain to their advantage, making it difficult for the police to pursue them. The Chambal region has been a popular setting for Bollywood films focusing on the lives of dacoits (bandits). These films often depict the lawlessness, conflicts, and dramatic stories of dacoits who took refuge in the Chambal ravines.

The portrayal of Chambal in this light has also contributed to its notoriety. Shah Alam Rana, a filmmaker based in the region, seeks to debunk the stereotype image of the region through the K. Asif Chambal Film Festival. This year, the festival was held in Dholpur, Rajasthan. Speaking to The Mooknayak, Shah Alam Rana said, "This was the 7th Edition of the Film Festival on 9-10 September, and this was the first time that the festival was organized outside Uttar Pradesh. Various filmmakers from the region showcased their films at the festival. Apart from this, 184 films from 32 countries were submitted to the film festival.

The Film Festival as a Platform to Raise Regional Issues

The Film Festival is organized with funding from the people of the region. The Chambal Film Festival is one of about two dozen programs used to raise issues concerning the region. Shah Alam, who hails from Basti in Uttar Pradesh, says, "Our team also organizes film festivals in Ayodhya and Chauri Chaura. There were many freedom fighters from marginalized sections whose contribution to Indian independence has been trivialized, such as Jungli-mangli Valmiki; we have documented all of this. We want there to be a discussion on the issues of Chambal through this film festival."

The Film Festival has highlighted issues like manual scavenging and drug addiction, which are prevalent in the area. In 2021, SafaiBaaz, a film starring stars like Rajpal Yadav and Johny Lever, which dealt with the hazards faced by manhole sweepers, won the Best Film Award.

In Memory of K. Asif: The Eminent Filmmaker from the Region

Rana says that K. Asif was born in Etawah and lived in the region until his pre-teens. Later, he moved to Mumbai and created the Magnum Opus Mughal-E-Azam. We want the world to know that the legendary filmmaker belonged to this region, and it is not only about the dacoits and the films around them. Cinema has contributed to the notoriety of this region, and we want to subvert that image through cinema itself. The tagline, "Come to Chambal," is symbolic of the aim of the film festival.

32 Countries & 103 Films, Chambal Goes International

The Festival, which began in the year 2010, resumed in 2018 after an 8-year hiatus, and this time it was organized in Dholpur, Rajasthan. The Jury of the festival comprised Prof. Dr. Mohan Das, who is also the founder, along with Manya Pathak, actress and model, Actress-Director Dr. Anusha Srinivasan Aiyar, Film Director Tortini from Albania, and Jallaluddin Gosimov from Azerbaijan. They selected 103 films out of the 184 entries received from 32 countries. The awards were divided into Indian and International categories.

The Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, wrote a congratulatory message for the Festival. The poster of the Festival was released by the District Magistrate Anil Kumar Agarwal, who was also among the guests of honour. Other guests included actors like Matin Khan, Documentary Filmmaker Shri Khalid Naik, and Film Producer Dharmendra Verma.

On the side lines of the event, various cultural programs were organized, and discussions were held to promote the region.

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