PDF Shorts 2025: Delhi’s Premier Bengali Short Film Festival Returns with Its Third Edition
New Delhi, August 19, 2025: Delhi’s premier Bengali Short Film Festival, PDF Shorts, returned with its third edition, organized by the Purbodiganta Foundation. The festival was held on Sunday, 17 August 2025, at the Godavari Auditorium, Lodhi Road, Institutional Area, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi – 110003.
Among the distinguished guests who graced the occasion were renowned filmmaker Sudhir Mishra, acclaimed actress Develina Kumar, veteran actor Barun Chanda, theatre stalwarts Chandan Sen and Debshankar Haldar, filmmaker Reshmi Mitra, and popular television actress Sumona Chakravarti, best known for her role in The Kapil Sharma Show.
A major highlight of this year’s edition was the Delhi premiere of acclaimed filmmaker Kankana Chakraborty’s short film Re Routing, a production already celebrated at multiple film festivals and commercial theatres across India. The screening was made even more special by the presence of both Kankana Chakraborty and veteran actor Barun Chanda.
The festival also featured the screening of a special Hindi short film directed by Sudhir Mishra, starring Chitrangada Singh, Vipin Sharma, and Sushant Singh. The event was further enriched by the presence of the Special Guests of Honour, Mrs. Piyali Chakraborty and Mr. Supriyo Haldar, whose attendance made the celebration all the more memorable.
The Purbodiganta Foundation was established by visionaries Shri Subhashis Gupta, Pushpal, Arindam, Probir, and a group of like-minded individuals with the mission of creating opportunities in education, art, and culture for children living on the margins of society.
At its core, the Foundation is dedicated to empowering underprivileged children through both academic and extracurricular activities. At its flagship center in Noida, 22 children are currently receiving high-quality education—an achievement that reflects a deep commitment to making learning accessible. The Foundation believes in nurturing intellectual growth and holistic personality development to secure a brighter future for every child.
Its mission also extends to celebrating Bengali culture, traditions, and artistic heritage through cinema. Guided by the belief that true service lies in giving back to society, the Foundation strives to inspire positive change through all its initiatives.
Over the past year, the Purbodiganta Foundation has further strengthened its commitment to education, social responsibility, art, culture, health, and welfare. At Purvoday School, 30 children received quality education along with school essentials, while seven meritorious students from Classes 10 and 12 were honored with awards. In raising social awareness, the Foundation voiced its stand against patriarchy through the protest video Tilottama Nyay Chaiye, seeking justice in the R.G. Kar Medical College case.
The cultural calendar remained vibrant with events such as World Environment Day competitions, the second edition of PDF Shorts featuring seven Bengali films, singing and theatre performances, and the Annual Day celebrations marked by a mesmerizing performance by the Surendra-Soumyajit duo.
Healthcare and welfare initiatives also took center stage, including an eye-checkup camp that benefited 150 people, the donation of 10,000 medicines to Medicine Baba, and the provision of regular nutritious meals for children along with food distribution in underserved communities. Winter relief efforts brought warmth through the weekly distribution of blankets, jackets, and sweaters to senior citizens, street dwellers, and children.
Festivals including Women’s Day, Independence Day, and Diwali were celebrated with Purvoday children and their families, fostering joy and strengthening community bonds. With each initiative, the Foundation continues to uphold its belief that to serve is to give back, while envisioning a brighter tomorrow through education, art, and culture.
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