Cop’s short films on road safety a hit
Voleti Srinivas’ short films on public awareness are now playing in nearly 200 theatres
The Transport Department in Krishna district has been creating awareness about wearing helmets through short films, that are playing in nearly 200 theaters in the district.
The two short films have become quite popular and though they are a team effort of the Road Transport Authority and students of an engineering college, it was Voleti Srinivas, a Motor Vehicle inspector, who was behind the initiative.
Srinivas (41), a native of Tenali in Guntur, had a personal reason to take up the cause. His son had met with an accident while crossing the road many years ago.
“I saw my son Ashrit getting hit by a motorcycle after getting off his school bus. I noticed the dismal state of awareness among the public and school managements while dropping kids at home from school, and started campaigning about it. Later, I realised that short films would be the best way to reach out to the public and made one in 2012 with the help of Vishnu Institute of Technology in Bhimavaram,” he says.
The film was appreciated by everyone including his seniors and two of his short films, School Bus and Rapid Kids, are currently on the website of the department for public viewing, he adds.
Srinivas has made five short films so far. “The students of Vishnu College helped materialise my concepts. They did everything, from shooting to acting and post-production. The two shorts films that are being played in the theaters have also been done by them, while I took up the direction,” adds Srinivas, who has also received a special award from the department for his short films.
He says that without the support of higher officials like DTC, department commissioner, it would not be possible for him to make the films. “I have to deal with regular work, which is hectic, and the short film work. The fact that these films create more awareness pushes us forward to do more,” he adds.
DTC Vaddi Sunder said that the short films were allowed to be played in theaters only after concerted efforts by the department, adding that this was the first time that such an initiative had been taken.