Now it's lights, camera, action for IITs

Chicago: Technology guru Sam Pitroda and filmmaker Shekhar Kapur have announced a movie script-writing contest for the students of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

Pitroda told a conference hosted by the IIT, Mumbai, that considering the multifaceted talent of IIT alumni both Kapur and he believe this would be an exciting contest.

Pitroda, who is also chairman of India's National Knowledge Commission, said the IIT, Mumbai, should introduce a Master's degree in film technology because of the growing convergence of various media.

"The IITs need to think outside the box and the time is absolutely right for them to introduce such a course that takes in its sweep film technology, animation and film engineering," Pitroda said.

The Pitroda-Kapur announcement for a script-writing contest will be an annual feature starting in 2007. Details such as the deadline for script submission, format, selection criteria, jury and the date for final selection will be announced on an upcoming website.

Asked why restrict the contest just to the IIT students, Pitroda said, "We could have kept it open to students generally but logistics would have been tough to manage. Besides, IIT students have established a name for themselves when it comes to multitasking," he said.

A winner and runner-up will be chosen by a jury consisting of well-known names from the world of cinema as well as other professions. There are possibilities that the winning scripts would eventually be made into movies too.

Pitroda said he had been toying with the contest for quite sometime and the time was opportune. As far as the quantum of the prizes, he said although it would be "decent amount for the winners", money was not the motivating force but "a desire to do something exciting and tap into a large talent pool”.

IIT alumni have been known to break the mould and frequently explore professions, which their engineering background may not foreshadow. They have been involved in running airlines, making movies, operating non-profit organisations and writing fiction.

Pitroda said being based in the same city as the Hindi cinema industry, the IIT, Mumbai will be able to leverage its resources well if it introduced a Master's in film technology.