At RV University’s School of Film, Media and Creative Arts, Singh urges students to use short films as experimental ground and explore cinema as a medium of cultural expression
Bengaluru, August 4, 2025: Celebrated filmmaker Mukesh Kumar Singh, best known for directing Kannappa (2025) and the epic television series Mahabharat (2013), engaged students of RV University’s School of Film, Media and Creative Arts (SoFMCA) in a powerful and interactive session on the art of cinematic storytelling.
Held as part of the university’s Students’ Orientation Programme 2025, the masterclass was themed ‘Storytelling for the Screen: How to Tell Indian Stories for a Global Audience’ and aimed to equip aspiring storytellers with a deeper understanding of narrative craft, cultural context, and global sensibilities in filmmaking.
In his address, Singh emphasized cinema’s unique role as a vehicle of emotional and cultural influence.
> “Cinema has this incredible soft power to move people and to change how they see the world. With global cinema just a click away, the global stage is hungry for fresh, rooted narratives. It is our job to craft them with responsibility as filmmakers,” he said.
Encouraging experimentation, Singh advised students to treat short films as a canvas to try, fail, and learn, laying the foundation for long-term mastery.
The session also highlighted the importance of studying classical cinema and literature, delving into themes of human psychology, character development, and technical finesse—crucial components in building emotionally resonant and globally relevant content.
Prof. (Dr.) Dwarika Prasad Uniyal, Vice-Chancellor (i/c), Prof. (Dr.) Piyush Roy, Dean of SoFMCA, and Prof. (Dr.) Kitty Mukherjee, Assistant Dean, also addressed the students, reinforcing the university’s commitment to nurturing globally competitive and culturally grounded filmmakers.
RV University recently welcomed 2,000 students across its eight schools—Law, Business, Economics & Public Policy, Computer Science & Engineering, Design & Innovation, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Film, Media & Creative Arts, and the School of Continuing Education & Professional Studies. The university has also announced plans to open a new campus in Nanjangud, Mysore, in 2026, further expanding its academic footprint.
