With the objective of inculcating positive behaviour; developing respect and empathy for other people and cultures among school children, Tamil Nadu’s Education Department has launched an initiative to screen movies in Government schools. The movies will also help students improve their skills of critical thinking, active listening and observation.

This project was started with the screening of the famous Charlie Chaplin 1921 film “The Kid'' at Anna Government Higher Secondary School, Pattichwaram in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur district by the Minister for School Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi. These films, according to the Minister, will have social themes and life values at their core.

In each of the 13,210 schools, one film will be shown every month as part of this year-long initiative. It will be screened for students in Classes VI to X on the second week of every month from Monday to Wednesday during one of their art periods.

The activities will not be limited to watching of the films as students will be provided an overview of the movie before screening, and also there will be discussions and quizzing also.

An exclusive app is being planned by the Education Department called Silver Screen App to enable students to send in their feedback and observations.

This move is also expected to encourage bonding between students and between children and teachers. Institutions will be motivated to start their own film clubs with a teacher in charge with the aim of getting other films and also inviting poets, filmmakers and poets for interaction on these movies.

At the end of this year-long project, a week-long festival featuring the world’s best children films will also be held in Chennai to be attended by students.