Chitkara University celebrates storytelling at Neelesh Misra Festival

Chitkara University hosted the Neelesh Misra Festival, bringing together students from across the university, along with participants from CIS Chandigarh and CIS Panchkula, for a day of storytelling, films, music and creative conversations. Organised under the aegis of the Office of Student Affairs, the festival featured storyteller, author and filmmaker Neelesh Misra and his team.

The festival began with a student-led presentation by various C2S2 clubs, tracing Neelesh Misra’s journey as a Kargil reporter, radio storyteller, lyricist and filmmaker through poetry, theatre, music and art. During his sessions, he spoke about how stories emerge from everyday life, emotions, conflicts and human connections, while Abhishek Verma and Ritam Nandy conducted a masterclass on filmmaking and visual storytelling.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Madhu Chitkara, President and Co-Founder of Chitkara University, said, “Stories help us understand people, ideas and experiences with greater depth. Encouraging students to engage with literature, cinema and creative expression broadens their perspectives and enriches learning.”

The festival featured a conversation between Dr. Madhu Chitkara and Neelesh Misra on storytelling and creativity, screenings of Kood and The Last Batsman, performances by the C2S2 Custody and C2S2 Natraj clubs, a student Slow Mic, and a live musical storytelling performance by Neelesh Misra.

The festival gave students an opportunity to explore storytelling across different mediums, bringing together literature, cinema, music and conversation in a shared learning experience.