Film Gala 2025: Exploring Novel Media of Storytelling
The Film Gala 2025, organised by the CineMates Club of SRM AP, was inaugurated with a formal ceremony that marked a prestigious two-day celebration dedicated to the art of cinema, narrative excellence, and creative expression. This distinguished event established a professional forum for filmmakers, artists, and cinema enthusiasts from across the nation to participate in intellectual discourse, competitive showcases, and cultural exhibitions.
The ceremony was honoured by the presence of Mrs Tejaswi Podapati Macharapu, Chairperson of the AP State Creativity and Culture Commission, Government of Andhra Pradesh, who served as the Chief Guest. She was accompanied by Mr Sujith Kalluri, Chief Club Advisors, distinguished faculty members, Founders and Alumni of CineMates, and official representatives from the organising committee.
The keynote address by Chief Guest Mrs Tejaswi Podapati Macharapu constituted the ceremony’s centrepiece. She delivered a comprehensive discourse on cinema’s transformative role in contemporary society. Drawing from her academic experiences, she emphasised the importance of integrating creative pursuits with scholastic endeavours. Mrs Tejaswi noted that India maintains its position as the world’s foremost film-producing nation, with an annual output exceeding 2,000 cinematic productions, thereby presenting substantial opportunities for aspiring filmmakers. She further emphasised that students from diverse academic disciplines, including engineering, possess the analytical acumen and creative capabilities necessary for success in the film industry.
To reinforce her message, Mrs Tejaswi referenced distinguished individuals from various professional domains, including politics, athletics, and the arts, underscoring how perseverance and passion are fundamental elements of professional achievement. She concluded her address by expressing admiration for the Film Gala’s established legacy and commended SRM AP for its institutional commitment to advancing artistic initiatives.
The ceremony featured classical dance performances by Ms. Preeti and Ms. Deepthi, who demonstrated the artistic interpretation of narrative through choreographed movement, exemplifying the intersection of traditional cultural expression and contemporary storytelling techniques.
A significant component of the inauguration was the formal announcement of the 24-Hour Filmmaking and Editing Challenges. The Visual Chase competition specified that participants create a two-minute video exploring the theme “Nature Speaks to Me,” while the Classic Cut competition challenged contestants to produce a trailer for the film ‘Kalki 2898 A.D.,’ with a maximum duration of 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
The inaugural ceremony concluded with a comprehensive presentation of the day’s scheduled activities, including curated short film screenings, a poetry recitation session, and an evening film presentation. The enthusiastic participation from attendees signified the successful launch of Film Gala 2025, establishing an auspicious foundation for what promised to be an intellectually stimulating and culturally enriching festival.
The event received generous sponsorship from esteemed organisations including Sastri Balm, AWEC Consultancy, IVY Overseas, ATHER, Vastrakala Shopping Mall, Picxy, Harivillu Promoters and Developers Pvt. Ltd., V1 Overseas Careers Pvt. Ltd., and GTR Solar Power. Their valued support facilitated the creation of a platform where emerging talents could demonstrate their artistic vision and technical expertise.
- Published in Departmental News, News, student affairs news, Students Affairs Events
Padmashri Prof. Shanti Sinha Discuss Child Labour and Child Rights in India at UDL#20
“Every Child Out of School is in Child Labour. Education, Education and Education alone is the Way Forward for a Progressing India.” – Prof. Shanti Sinha
The twentieth edition of the University Distinguished Lecture (UDL) on February 21, 2025, witnessed an invigorating session by the eminent anti-child labour activist Padma Shri Prof. Shanta Sinha, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee, Former Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), and Professor (Retd.) Dept. of Political Science, Hyderabad Central University. The session on the topic “Making Education a Reality and Ending Child Labour: Experience of M.V. Foundation” gave an overview of the work of M.V. Foundation in the field of child rights in India.
In a society ravaged by poverty, where children were forced to join the bonded labour workforce, Prof. Sinha remarked that it was not poverty that led to child labour but child labour that led to poverty. Prof. Sinha elucidated on the non-negotiable principle adopted by the M.V. Foundation, that ‘no child must work, and every child must attend full-time formal day school,’ which broke the societal norms of Indian society.
She briefly spoke about the impact that the M.V. Foundation had and the ripple it created in the field of child rights. “M.V. Foundation has withdrawn over 15 lakh children in the age group of 5-14 years from child labour; stopped over 20,000 child marriages and pioneered a program for mainstreaming children to schools through residential bridge courses. The MVF’s mission to abolish child labour also led to the Closure of Night Schools and the creation of necessary amendments in the Child Labour Act of 1986,” stated Prof. Sinha.
The session also discussed Prof. Sinha’s Journey at the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), and the various challenges faced in addressing key issues such as violation of children’s rights in relation to child labour and child trafficking, rights of children in areas of civil unrest, juvenile justice system, corporal punishment, child abuse and violence on children, and child malnutrition.
The UDL 20 was a mind opener and a lens into the reality of child labour still prevalent in India. Prof. Manoj K Arora, Vice Chancellor of SRM University-AP, expressed his gratitude to have the presence of a torchbearer of social reform at the UDL. He stated, “Prof. Sinha is a stalwart whose work has created a magnitudinal shift in the societal norm, significantly contributing to the abolition of child labour in India. We are grateful to imbibe from her knowledge and experience as a social leader.” Dean of Easwari School of Liberal Arts, Prof. Vishnupad, also expressed his heartfelt appreciation for Prof. Sinha’s presence and her work. He stated that the thought-provoking and inspiring session will ignite students to think in a ‘non-conventional’ way and offer courage to make a change.
The 20th UDL was organised under the aegis of the Office of Dean-Research, the UDL committee, and the Easwari School of Liberal Arts. It witnessed the presence of Registrar Dr R Premkumar, Dean of the School of Engineering and Sciences, Prof C V Tomy, Dean of Research, Prof. Ranjit Thapa, and Faculty and students of the varsity. The signature lecture series is the university’s flagship initiative to impart global exposure and quality education to its students.
Techno-Cultural Fest INFINITUS’25 Wrap up with a Bang
The four-day Techno-Cultural Fest, INFINITUS’25, from February 05-08, 2025, has come to a showstopping end at SRM University-AP. An incredible lineup of artists featured on the final two days of INFINITUS’25, including renowned music composer-performer duo Salim-Sulaiman Merchant. The duo and their team enthralled the audience with their popular hits and electrifying performances, transforming the campus into a captivating concert where they showcased an unforgettable stage.
The cultural performances also included a stand-up comedy act by Hoody, mesmerizing songs by Ram Miryala and a final showdown by DJ Akram. The performing artists set the stage ablaze with their incredible zeal and talent, and the grounds of SRM University-AP became a platform for fun, creativity and enjoyment.
The techno fest, a central highlight of INFINITUS 2025, commenced with great enthusiasm and an immense exhibition of talent. The inaugural function witnessed Vice President of PowerTrain at Volvo Group, Mr Kishan Sreenath, as the Chief Guest along with Vice Chancellor, Prof. Manoj K Arora; Registrar, Dr R Premkumar; Director of Student Affairs, Mr Anil Kumar Nigam; Chief Club Advisor, Dr Sujith Kalluri; and Student Council President, Mr B V S Laksman.
Chief Guest Mr Kishan Sreenath commended the ethos behind INFINITUS ‘25. He also highlighted the importance of problem statements in hackathons and their crucial role in advancing technology. Mr Kishan stressed how platforms such as INFINITUS ‘25 foster collaboration among individuals with varying backgrounds, benefiting society.
The HACK SRM Challenge was the standout event among the technical events, with 22 hours of nonstop hacking, six tracks, a grand prize pool of ₹ 1 Lakh, and ₹75k worth of sidetracks. Some of the other technical competitions of the fest included FIFA, Valorant, BGMI, Bullet Echo, and Rapid UI, to name a few. Navacharak bagged the 1st prize, followed by Pinterest Gillies in the Hack SRM Challenge, winning prize money of 50k and 30k, respectively. The winners of the techno expo- Mahammad Hassain, Yella Reddy, Sai Kumar, and Charmi bagged the prize money of 10k.
The final day of the Techno-Cultural Fest also hosted the much-awaited Mr and Ms Fresher competition, where the brightest, most talented, and deserving candidates were chosen as the title winners. Mr Aashir, a first-year B.Tech. student, and Ms Pratyusha, a first-year M.Sc. student, were selected as Mr and Ms Fresher, respectively. Other cultural programmes included Tech Tales, Cyber Vogue, Cyber Sway, Cyber Tunes and Glitch Stage where participants put on exemplary performances and won spectacular prizes. INFINITUS’25, organised under the aegis of the Directorate of Student Affairs and the Student Council of the university, was a resounding success, a memorable experience celebrating innovation, talent and creativity./p>
- Published in News, student affairs news, Students Affairs Events
6-Day Workshop cum Mini-Symposium on PDE Successfully Concludes
The Department of Mathematics successfully hosted a 6-day Workshop cum Mini-Symposium on Partial Differential Equations (PDE) from December 23 to 28, 2024, with generous financial support from the National Board for Higher Mathematics (NBHM). The event aimed to bridge theoretical foundations and cutting-edge applications of PDEs, fostering academic dialogue among researchers, scholars, and students.
The Workshop held on the theme “Basics of regularity theory of elliptic partial differential equations” featured sessions by subject experts including Prof. A. Adimurthi, Visiting Faculty, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, IIT Kanpur; Dr Karthik Adimurthi, Reader, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Centre for Applicable Mathematics, Bangalore and Prof. Prosenjit Roy, Professor, Department of Mathematics, IIT Kanpur.
Themed “Applied Mathematics Symposium on Differential Equations: Theory, Computation, and Beyond”, the mini-symposium featured insightful talks by Prof. Mohit Dalwadi, Associate Professor in Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford; Dr Satyajit Pramanik, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, IIT Guwahati and Dr Moitri Sen, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, NIT Patna. These experts delivered lectures on advanced topics, including elliptic PDE theory, computational methods, and interdisciplinary applications.
The primary aim was to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the abstract theory of elliptic partial differential equations, emphasising both foundational principles and modern computational techniques. Interactive sessions, problem-solving workshops, and collaborative discussions enriched the learning experience.
The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from 23 outstation researchers (from reputed institutions across India) and PhD scholars from the Department of Mathematics, SRM AP. The diverse cohort facilitated vibrant academic exchanges and networking opportunities.
A special felicitation ceremony was also held on December 24, 2025, to honour Vigyan Shri Prof. Adimurthi for his monumental contributions to mathematics. This segment underscored SRM AP’s commitment to celebrating excellence in scientific research. The Workshop cum Mini-Symposium served as a dynamic platform for disseminating knowledge, fostering collaborations, and inspiring future research in PDEs.
- Published in Departmental News, Math News, News, Workshop
76th Republic Day Celebrations: Student-Athlete and Olympian Jyotika Sri Dandi Rewarded with Cash Prize
SRM University-AP honoured the 76th Year of India as a Republic with regal celebrations at the campus. Vice Chancellor Prof. Manoj K Arora hoisted the flag in the presence of Registrar Dr R Premkumar, Deans and Directors, faculty, staff and students, followed by a parade by the security staff of the university. Ms Jyotika Sri Dandi, student of Easwari School of Liberal Arts who represented the Indian team at the Women’s 4x400m Relay for the Paris Olympics 2024, was also present for the occasion.
In his address, Prof. Manoj K Arora spoke about the country’s golden heritage and the battle for freedom led by our freedom fighters and visionary leaders, which led to the momentous victory of Purna Swaraj. He underscored the significance of our Constitution representing the values that unite the diverse nation. “Our country has developed in leaps and bounds with our pivotal position on the global economic front, achievements in education and sports, and our advanced space programme. India is on its way to becoming a developed nation by 2047, and we must strive together as citizens to achieve this inclusive vision,” stated Prof. Arora in his address. He also briefed on the university’s stellar growth in academics, research and innovation, entrepreneurial startups, infrastructure and the plan for the upcoming year.
The celebration also witnessed the felicitation of the student-athlete and Olympian, Ms Jyotika Sri Dandi, who participated in the Paris Olympics 2024. The university awarded her a reward cheque of Rs 20 Lakhs for her remarkable contribution to Indian sports and her alma mater. In her address of gratitude, she stated, “SRM University-AP provided me with immense support for my academics with scholarships and the best resources for training. With two Olympians already in its fold, I am sure that in 10 years we will harbour the best contingent of athletes and academicians among all Indian universities.”
Pro-Chancellor Dr P Sathyanarayanan sanctioned Rs 70 lakh to be awarded to students who have won various national and inter-university sports championships. Cash prizes ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 1,00,000 were awarded to student-athletes for their exemplary sports performances during the event. Faculty and staff who have rendered five years of service to the university were also honoured with a memento and certificate in recognition of their contribution to the university’s development. The Republic Day celebrations concluded with various cultural programmes by students celebrating the diversity of the great nation.
- Published in Events, News, University Event