Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Media Release
Mangaluru, Mar 13: The department of media studies, School of Arts and Humanities at St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, successfully organized ‘Shooting Stars 2026’, a national media seminar and film festival on March 12. The event, co-sponsored by Sparkle Gift Card, brought together students, academicians, media professionals, and cinema enthusiasts under the theme ‘Convergence of Communication and Creativity’.
Sandalwood actor Vijay Raghavendra, known for Chinnari Mutha, inaugurated the programme and expressed gratitude for the support he received during his Bigg Boss Kannada journey. Highlighting the power of storytelling, he urged students to create original Kannada content. He also praised pan-Indian cinema’s reach, and encouraged aspiring creators to stay authentic, work hard, and enjoy the creative process.
Nandita Lakshmanan, founder and chairperson of The PRactice, and one of the early public relations practitioners in the country with more than three decades of industry experience, delivered the keynote address on ‘Leading with Integrity’. She urged students to make integrity the foundation of their careers, emphasizing that true confidence comes from standing firmly by one’s values. Highlighting the importance of ethical communication, transparency, and independent thinking, she encouraged future professionals to tell authentic local stories and to uphold honesty and credibility in every message they communicate.
In the presidential address, Dr Charles V Furtado, director of the Administration Block, reflected on the two-decade legacy of the Shooting Stars festival, highlighting how the platform has nurtured creativity and talent among students over the years. Addressing the participants, he urged students to uphold integrity, compassion, and authenticity in both their personal and professional lives while continuing to nurture their talents and make meaningful contributions to society.
Filmmaker Deepith Kumar led the first technical session, showing how AI tools can enhance editing and visuals while keeping creativity and original ideas central. The second technical session, led by food vlogger and influencer Laxmi Shenoy, highlighted the importance of passion, consistency, and creating engaging content, inspiring students to express their talents.
During a special interactive session with the film Kajja team, including Siddharth Shetty, Wencita Dias, Mohan, Chiral Bajjal, Prajwal ND, and Bhavish, the team shared valuable insights into the process of filmmaking and encouraged students to explore opportunities in cinema and media production.
During the valedictory addresses, chief guest Siddharth Shetty called the students ‘stars’, emphasizing that creativity and dedication are the true paths to success. Guest of honour Dr. Loveena Lobo spoke about the importance of resilience, curiosity, and perseverance, drawing inspiration from the Japanese concept of Kintsugi, which teaches that imperfections and challenges can become sources of strength and beauty.
Dr Rose Veera D'Souza, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, Bhavya Shetty, head of the department of media studies, along with Wilson Pereira and Sheedhal K Reji, staff convenors, and student coordinators Nishali, Philicia, and Amreen were present during the programme. The programme was compered by Iola and Shreya.
The event concluded with the prize distribution ceremony, recognizing excellence in photography, documentaries, and short films.