IOP Correspondent
Port Louis (Mauritius), June 8, 2019: A Bhojpuri Short Film Competition was jointly organized by Bhojpuri Speaking Union & Mauritius Film Development Corporation to celebrate the rich heritage of Bhojpuri Cinema in Port Louis.
Several wonderful Bhojpuri films were showcased in the competition and a prize ceremony took place to facilitate the contributor of the Bhojpuri cinematic universe.
Top five short films were honoured in this unique competition. The first prize was bagged by Bhojpuri film 'Marich Ke Tara' which was produced by Kishore Kumar Ramessur.
Also, a special prize for Lifetime achievement award was conferred toDhunnarain Jeewooth.
The Minister of Arts and Culture of the Government of Mauritius, Pradeep Singh Roopun graced the event with his presence. He spoke in Bhojpuri throughout.
He said that the Government is giving all support for the promotion of languages written and spoken in Mauritius including Bhojpuri.
He announced the holding of Antarashtriya Bhojpuri Mahotsaw in Mauritius in 2020 sometime in June July.
Dr. Mrs. Sarita Boodhoo, Chairperson of Bhojpuri Speaking Union, and a fourth generation daughter of the soil of Bihar, in Mauritius was also present on this occasion.
Dr. Sarita Boodhoo is a writer, journalist and strong advocate of Indianity and maintenance of Indian Values and Indian languages including Hindi and Bhojpuri in diasporic countries.
The Indian High Commissioner Shri Tanmay Lal ventured even a few words in Bhojpuri.
He said, ‘’Rowra ke bich mein ake hamke bujhat ba ki ham Bihar ke kono asthan mein bani.’’ (I feel that I am somewhere in Bihar after coming in this event.).
He also said, the Indian High Commission will do its utmost to help the Bhojpuri Speaking Union in its laudable projects of promoting Bhojpuri language, culture and heritage as part of Mauritian patrimony.