Organised by: Constitution Club of St. Joseph’s College of Law
Faculty Coordinators: Prof. Bhaskar Simha LN, Prof. Yashwont Kiran S
Student Coordinators: Irene Siby, Leyo Mathew, G.S. Sharath, Hamsa Paramesh, Nidhi
Ramesh, Dikshika Yadav, Mahima Ashok and Anupama A
Event date: 19/12/2025

The Constitution Club of St. Joseph’s College of Law organised Drishyam, a Short Film Making Competition, as part of Chittara, with the objective of fostering critical engagement with contemporary socio-legal issues through the medium of cinema. The competition sought to provide students with a creative platform to articulate socially relevant narratives, encourage critical thinking on pressing legal and social concerns, and promote awareness through visual storytelling.

The event featured films addressing themes such as Freedom of Speech, Labour and Inequality, Toxic Love and Abuse, and Custodial Violence and Justice, thus enabling participants to reflect on issues relating to individual liberties, socio-economic disparities, interpersonal relationships, and institutional accountability. Students from various colleges participated by submitting independently produced short films in either fictional or documentary formats.

The competition was adjudicated by Punith Sakya, a distinguished theatre practitioner, filmmaker, and writer, whose extensive experience in theatre and cinema brought valuable professional insight to the evaluation process. Following the screenings, the judge offered constructive feedback on narrative structure, thematic depth, and technical execution, contributing to a meaningful learning experience for participants. Outcome:

The Drishyam Short Film Competition successfully enabled students to engage creatively with significant socio-legal issues and express critical perspectives through cinema. Participants gained practical exposure to storytelling, filmmaking techniques, and thematic interpretation, while also developing a deeper understanding of social justice concerns relevant to the legal field.

The conferment of prizes and special awards recognised excellence across multiple dimensions, including direction, script, acting, editing, and social impact. The event concluded with the distribution of participation certificates, reinforcing inclusivity and encouragement. Overall, the competition reaffirmed the role of cinema as a powerful tool for reflection, critique, and social awareness, aligning with the Constitution Club’s objective of nurturing socially conscious and critically engaged, future legal professionals.