In poll season, Khajuraho Festival next week to focus on farmers and women

NEW DELHI: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had promised that he would attend the fourth edition of the Khajuraho International Film Festival, which will be held from December 17-23, but his participation at the event depends on the results of the assembly election to be declared on Tuesday, said officials.

They said the state culture department is working towards the success of the festival, which will focus on farm distress and women’s issues this year. The festival has been scaled up to a weeklong event from a three-day affair and will travel to four different regions of the state, said actor Raja Bundela, the director of the festival. He said the festival will travel to multiple villages, showing films of “positivity” to farmers.

“The special section is aimed at helping farmers deal with agrarian distress – how they can be more aware and prevent themselves from being distracted to suicides, how they can build communities of farmers, increase communication among them and de-stress themselves with quality entertainment,” said Bundela.


Madhya Pradesh is among the states worst affected by farm crisis, mainly due to prices of onion and garlic dipping below `5 a kg.

The state culture secretary Manoj Shrivastava said that the highlight of the festival will be ‘Tapra Talkies’, with theatres in rural areas showcasing films that hardly ever make it to villages. The festival is expected to be attended by film personalities including Shekhar Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, P rem Chopra, Gov i n d Nihalani, Sushant Singh Rajput and Gulzar.