Important to be gender sensitive in children's films: Joshi

Censor board chairman Prasoon Joshi believes it is important to include gender sensitivity in films on children and there should be a conscious effort to bring the heroes out of girls.
Joshi, who wrote songs for "Taare Zameen Par", said children's films open a window to the world.
"Gender sensitivity at the time of conceptualisation of films is important. I remember my daughter feeling empowered when she watched 'Mulan'. It is important to be conscious of this particular thing," Joshi said at a panel discussion on 'Children's Films in Indian Cinema' at the 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

The lyricist said films for children should have characters that interest both boys and girls.
"Why should a boy character do all the things and girls are just left to think of ideas? I think there should be a conscious effort to bring the heroes out of girls."
Joshi said children's films can be enriching for both kids and adults.

"A child's vision is more important for an adult than it is for a kid. I believe we adults need more children films than kids because our lives are so complicated that we can't think beyond.
"Big production houses should support children's films. I request all those filmmakers who are capable to support children's cinema to do so. They should think about it and focus on it," he said.

The panel included "Dangal" director Nitesh Tiwari, Devika Prabhu, associate director and head of programming for Disney, Jetix and Hungama; Rajiv Chilaka, founder CEO of Green Gold Animation.