Int'l film festival on gender and sexuality

NEW DELHI, May 12 (Agencies): A four-day international film festival on gender and sexuality exploring the various facets of relationships among men and women was inaugurated here today by member Planning Commission Syeda Hameed.

About 40 films, including award winning movies, from the world over will be showcased at the festival which has been organised by Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT) in association with UNESCO and the MacArthur Foundation.

Dwelling into the deep intricacies of everyday experiences of gender and sexuality, the films raise some of the larger issues associated with masculine and feminine spaces and their expression.

Speaking on the sidelines of the festival titled "Gender and Sexuality", Hameed was of the view that films being screened will have social implications.

Illustrating her point, she said, "women's health is affected by their pursuit of the perfect image resulting in anorexia and lifestyle related diseases." "It is going to impact people more at the lower end who cannot afford to spend on their health," she said claiming the pursuit of beauty affected public expenditure on health and beauty industry was "devastating" the women in India.

Hameed said even Uttar Pradesh's next Chief minister Mayawati, who is not seen as a "fair and lovely" woman, has transformed her image of a "rustic woman" to a more polished one of a "town woman".

However, she added that the BSP chief has not let it change her ability to connect to people.

Rajiv Mehrotra, Managing Trustee, PSBT told PTI that the festival intends to promote new talent while providing a platform for discussions on these issues.

Battered Mulayam asks party MLAs to reach out to people LUCKNOW, May 12 (Agencies): After being battered in the just concluded assembly polls, outgoing chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today again targetted the Election Commission holding it responsible for his party's defeat.

Yadav, who chaired a meeting of the newly-elected Samajwadi Party MLAs at the party office here, directed them to reach to people and work with them and activate party cadres.

Defeated candidates were also present at the meeting.

Party leader Ambika Chowdhury, while talking to reporters later, alleged the commission had worked against his party in the polls.

Chaudhary, who managed to retain his seat from Kopachit in Ballia district, said that SP would continue to work for the people of the state and discharge its duty as a responsible opposition.

The SP bagged 97 seats, 46 less than its tally of the previous assembly polls.