Draft:Santanu Mishra
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Santanu Mishra | |
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.jpg) Santanu Mishra | |
| Born | July 7, 1965 |
| Alma mater | Sambalpur University (B.Com) Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (MBA) |
| Occupations | Social entrepreneur, film producer |
| Known for | Co-founder of Smile Foundation |
Santanu Mishra is an Indian social entrepreneur, film producer, and co-founder of Smile Foundation, a non-profit development organisation based in New Delhi. He is also the founder and chairman of the Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFFCY). The Guardian described Smile Foundation, which he co-founded, as an example of venture philanthropy in India, noting that the organisation applies venture capital principles to social development work.[1]
Early Life and Education
[edit]Santanu Mishra was born on 7 July 1965 in Sambalpur, Odisha, India. After completing his B.Com from Sambalpur University, he moved to New Delhi and became an associate member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. He is also a qualified lawyer. He later completed his management education at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A).[2]
Career
[edit]Corporate Career
[edit]During a 15-year career in the corporate sector, Santanu Mishra held leadership positions across multiple industries. In 2005, he stepped away from his corporate career to devote himself full-time to Smile Foundation, which he had co-founded in 2002.[2]
Smile Foundation
[edit]In 2002, Santanu Mishra and a group of colleagues from the corporate sector founded Smile Foundation with a focus on child education. The organisation later expanded to include healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment programmes. As Co-Founder and Executive Trustee, Santanu Mishra oversees the overall operations, planning, and strategy of the organisation. Smile Foundation adopted a social venture philanthropy model which, according to The Guardian, applies venture capital principles to channel resources toward grassroots social organisations in a structured and accountable manner.[1]
Film Production
[edit]In 2010, Santanu Mishra produced I Am Kalam, a Hindi-language film directed by Nila Madhab Panda, centred on child education and the Right to Education. The Wall Street Journal reviewed the film, describing it as produced by "the education and health nonprofit Smile Foundation" and noting its focus on a young boy from rural Rajasthan.[3] The film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival and travelled to more than 60 countries, winning around 40 awards. The lead actor Harsh Mayar received the National Film Award for Best Child Artist in 2011.[4]
In 2018, a short film Delhi Dreams, made by fourteen underprivileged children from New Delhi under a Smile Foundation initiative, was screened at the 71st Cannes Film Festival at the British Pavilion. Mishra described the project as part of the foundation's effort to use film as a medium for social change.[5]
SIFFCY
[edit]Santanu Mishra is the founder and chairman of the Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFFCY), an annual film festival focused on children's cinema. Livemint described his vision as planning to turn SIFFCY into a larger national event, with screenings in Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Bengaluru.[2] The Sunday Guardian described the 12th edition as a space where cinema serves as a tool for empathy and dialogue for young audiences, and noted Mishra's belief that meaningful cinema can shape values and imagination in young people.[6]
Recognition
[edit]In November 2017, the 14th Dalai Lama acknowledged Santanu Mishra's work at an event hosted by Smile Foundation and pledged to support the foundation's activities over the following five years.[7]
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Mishra described film as a tool for social awareness and community engagement, noting his commitment to using cinema to sensitise and inspire audiences.[8]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | I Am Kalam | Producer | Screened at Cannes Film Festival; National Film Award for Best Child Artist for lead actor Harsh Mayar |
| 2018 | Delhi Dreams | Producer | Screened at 71st Cannes Film Festival, British Pavilion |
| 2024 | Manayun: My Wonderland | Producer | Best Documentary, 34th Odisha State Films Awards; selected for Durban International Film Festival |
| 2024 | Torch | Producer | Special Jury Award, 34th Odisha State Films Awards |
References
[edit]- 1 2 Smith, Zoe (2013-07-09). "Venture philanthropy and the quest for aid effectiveness". The Guardian. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
- 1 2 3 Devgan, Kavita (2 April 2019). "This movie buff uses films to inspire children". Livemint. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
- ↑ Mehta, Nikita (2011-08-05). "Review Round-Up: 'I Am Kalam'". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
- ↑ Ghose, Anindita (2011-05-28). "The new life of Harsh Mayar". Livemint. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
- ↑ "Film by Delhi slum children goes to Cannes". Gulf News. 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
- ↑ Khan, Murtaza Ali (2026-02-08). "SIFFCY 2026 puts children at the centre of cinema". The Sunday Guardian. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
- ↑ "Talk about Universal Responsibility and Compassion at Smile Foundation". The Office of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. 2017-11-19. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
- ↑ "Believe in power of films as tool to sensitise, inspire masses: Santanu Mishra". Hindustan Times. 2022-08-25. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
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