:Mumbai, 26^th, April, 2025

Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL), a Mini Ratna Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, was entrusted with organizing and managing the India: A Bird’s Eye View Challenge.

The challenge invited participants to submit 2–3 minute aerial videos highlighting India’s beauty, diverse landscapes, heritage, culture, innovation, progress and transformation through compelling drone cinematography. To promote inclusive participation, the challenge featured two categories:

1) Open Category: Open to all Indian citizens, including filmmakers, students, hobbyists, professionals, and drone enthusiasts.

2) Drone Didi Category: Exclusively for women trained under initiatives like the Namo Drone Didi Scheme, aimed at empowering women in rural and semi-urban areas through drone training.

To ensure widespread awareness and encourage participation, BECIL implemented a comprehensive national media campaign that combined both traditional and digital outreach methods. The campaign involved institutional visits and seminars at drone academies, media institutes and universities across India, along with live interactions with students and drone trainees to generate grassroots-level engagement. A dedicated online portal was launched to facilitate seamless registration and video submission. Additionally, strategic email campaigns targeted media schools, drone training centers and civil society networks to expand the campaign’s digital footprint. Social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn were actively leveraged through tailored content to build sustained interest in the challenge. Complementing the digital efforts, printed materials including posters and pamphlets were distributed.

The challenge received an overwhelming 1,324 registrations, including 382 entries from Drone Didi participants, reflecting the growing enthusiasm for drone videography as a storytelling medium. Entries poured in from across India—from the Himalayan valleys of Himachal Pradesh to the cultural corridors of Uttar Pradesh, the plains of Bihar, the innovation hubs of Gujarat and Karnataka, and the coastal stretches of Tamil Nadu—making this a true pan-India celebration of creativity and progress.

All entries were meticulously reviewed by a distinguished jury panel comprising:

• Mr. Piyush Shah – Cinematographer, Producer, Writer, and Sound Designer
• Mr.R.V. Ramani – National Award-winning Filmmaker & Documentary Cinematographer
• Mr. Arun Varma – Acclaimed Cinematographer in Indian Cinema

Following a rigorous evaluation process, five finalists from each category were shortlisted, along with four entries under a Special Category for Social Representation:

These shortlisted entries will be showcased at WAVES 2025, and the winners will be declared and felicitated during a grand ceremony at the summit.

For more information and updates, visit: www.becil.com

About WAVES

The first World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), a milestone event for the Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector, will be hosted by the Government of India in Mumbai, Maharashtra, from May 1 to 4, 2025.

Whether you're an industry professional, investor, creator, or innovator, the Summit offers the ultimate global platform to connect, collaborate, innovate and contribute to the M&E landscape.

WAVES is set to magnify India’s creative strength, amplifying its position as a hub for content creation, intellectual property, and technological innovation. Industries and sectors in focus include Broadcasting, Print Media, Television, Radio, Films, Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, Sound and Music, Advertising, Digital Media, Social Media Platforms, Generative AI, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Extended Reality (XR).

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