18th MIFF Hosts Inspiring Panel Discussion on Innovation and Creativity

Mumbai: The 18th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) today held a dynamic panel discussion titled “Inspiring Narratives: Innovation and Creativity.” The session featured budding social entrepreneurs who shared their transformative initiatives, delving into their personal journeys and highlighting how they overcame challenges and embraced creativity to bring their ideas to life. From breaking gender norms to overcoming societal barriers, the panelists offered insights and experiences, inspiring others to pursue their passions and make a lasting impact.

In a bid to celebrate these success stories and inspire millions, animation films depicting their life journeys are being co-produced by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and Netflix as part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Kahaniyan’ series. Trailers of these films were showcased during the discussion. Handpicked by the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, these stories are central to the collaborative initiative between NFDC and Netflix. Through captivating storytelling techniques blending animation and live-action, skillfully narrated by Raj Kumar Rao, the impactful journeys of these change-makers are being presented.

Dr. Sapna Poti, Director of Strategic Alliances in the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, highlighted the significance of these narratives, stating, “These are not just animated stories but sagas of social innovators that would inspire millions. Innovation is not just the development of something new; it should also be sustainable. There is sustainability in each of these stories in this series, which needs to be amplified so that people across the nation will get to know about their life journeys. This is the reason the Government has chosen this platform to highlight their stories.”

Hasmukh Rawal, the Managing Director and Co-founder of Mylab Discovery Solutions, shared insights into the process of bringing innovative solutions to the public. He cited the success of CoviSelf, the pioneering COVID-19 test kit for self-use, as an example of making innovation easier, accessible, and convenient for users.

Lokesh P. Goswami, the Co-founder and CTO of Angirus, emphasized the importance of treating larger societal problems as personal issues. He believes this sense of responsibility drives innovation. Goswami’s narrative underscored how personal commitment can lead to groundbreaking solutions in social entrepreneurship.

Other participants included Amit Ghosh, the Founder of aAHARAN EduSMAR Pvt. Ltd., which provides e-learning services in local languages for students in Northeast India; Meghna Roy, the Co-Founder and Creative Director of The Good Stuff Studio (TGS), a creative agency; and Kunjpreet Arora, Co-founder of Angirus. They shared their experiences and insights, contributing to a rich discussion on innovation and creativity.