Students showcase talents in contests like Photography, Anchoring, Short Films, Reels, & Quiz
The second edition of the Annual National Marvel Media Fest 2024, a two-day event hosted by the School of Media and Communications at Shoolini University, received an overwhelming response. Concluding on Saturday, the festival showcased creativity, innovation, and learning in media and communication. It brought together students, experts, and industry leaders from across the country for a vibrant celebration of ideas and talent.
The event was inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Prof Ashish Khosla, Director of Learning and Innovation. Shoolini University. Other notable attendees included Nishtha Shukla Anand, Trustee and Director of Marketing and Communications; Avnee Khosla, Vice President and Director of Student Experience and Success; Ashoo Khosla, Chief Learning Officer; and Brigadier SD Mehta, Director of Operations.
Prof Vipin Pubby, Director of the School of Media and Communications, welcomed the guests and highlighted the importance of the fest in promoting creativity and innovation.
In her address, Nishtha Shukla Anand spoke about the evolution of independent journalism, the impact of digital communication, and the challenges posed by satirical news.
Prof Ashish Khosla delivered an inspiring speech, drawing parallels between superheroes and the transformative power of media. Quoting iconic Marvel movies, he encouraged students to embrace creativity and innovation, describing AI as a game-changer for the industry.
An engaging session was conducted by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) teams from Chandigarh and Shimla, led by Pritam Singh, Director, PIB Shimla, and Ahmad Khan, Media and Communication Officer, PIB Chandigarh. They introduced the ‘Create in India Challenge’, focusing on animation, gaming, generative AI, and broadcasting, and shared insights about PIB’s role and career opportunities in UPSC and SSC.
The fest featured a range of competitions, including Outdoor Photography, News Anchoring, Short Films, Caption Writing, Instagram Reels, Quiz, and RJing, showcasing the creativity and skills of participants. Winners included Ravichandran, Aditya Pathania, and Harsh Raj for Short Films; Arushi Kashyap (Chitkara University) for RJing; Bhavna Diwan (Chitkara University) for photography; Satyaki Mukherjee (Shoolini University), Bhumi Sharma (Chitkara University) and Vanshika Sharma for Caption The Photo; Aryan Thakur for Instagram Reels; and Prekshi and Himanshi for the Quiz.
The event also included the launch of the book ‘The Fire Within Sita’, authored by Rsvika Tripathi and mentored by Prof Purnima Bali, Head of the Chitrakoot School of Liberal Arts. The book explores women’s strength and resilience, drawing inspiration from the story of Sita from the ‘Ramayana’.
Pro Chancellor Vishal Anand, the chief guest at the valedictory function, highlighted the power of media in shaping society, using the example of South Korea’s global influence through K-pop. He proposed expanding the fest to an international platform in future editions.
Guest of Honour Vivek Atray, ex-IAS, Motivational TEDx Speaker and author, emphasised quality storytelling and encouraged students to read publications like The Economist to understand global trends.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof Charanjeet Singh, who appreciated the efforts of the faculty and students. The fest was coordinated by Associate Prof Ranjna Thakur, Assistant Prof Paarth Sharma, and Associate Prof Nisha Kapoor, faculty members of the School of Media and Communications.
December 7