‘Stanley Ka Dabba’ in Kerala…
Published June 14, 2011 | Sharaz, our php programmer, is one of those guys with whom I like going for movies. The most important reason being that he sees movies sans presumptions and is tolerant enough to like almost all kinds of films.
Yesterday he and I went for a movie, ‘Stanley Ka Dabba’, which I bet many of our colleagues here at Karmakerala wouldn’t even have heard of. The film is directed by Amol Gupte, who has put in a good performance in the recently-released Malayalam film ‘Urumi’ too. Amol Gupte is not a popular Bollywood actor, but he is an actor worth reckoning. He was the Creative Director for Aamir Khan’s ‘Taare Zameen Par’ and had given a notable performance in ‘Kaminey’. So now, it was time for us to relish Amol Gupte’s directorial venture.
We had Dosa and Omelette at MK Bakers, guys who keep us going at Karmakerala by bringing us tea and snacks on sleepy afternoons (Hope our bosses are not reading this!) (an it was drizzling as Sharaz rode us to the Oberon Cinemax Multiplex. We were on time; got in and seated just as the titles were coming to an end.
What followed for the next two hours was magic, magic on screen. It is the story of a boy called Stanley (played by Amol’s son Partho) who comes to school daily without his ‘Dabba’ (lunch box). There are some other characters who seemed to be taken right out of life and planted there, on the screen. Most notable one among these is the Hindi teacher, Babubhai Verma (played by Amol Gupte himself), a guy who is crazy after food and always goes after students to share their meals. There is also the Science teacher Mrs.Iyer (Divya Jagdale) and the English teacher Ms. Rosy (Divya Dutta) who stand out. The story, simple and straight, moves on to a climax that I won’t like to speak about here; if at all you are rendered curious, go and watch the movie and find out. We need to watch and encourage such movies.
The movie reminded me, to a great extent, of New Wave Iranian movies, those by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Abbas Kiarostami, Majid Majidi etc. I was wondering yesterday why such movies were not happening here in Kerala; but then I remembered having seen one such movie last year in Malayalam- ‘T.D.Dasan Std VI B’, a film that reminded me of those simple, straight-from-the-heart Iranian movies. But when these films get released, people just turn their backs on them. Hey, striking indeed, that even those who circulate pirated cds of movies here in Kerala (they are very much there, in Kerala, pirated cds of the latest movies, contributing greatly to dealing deadly blows to the film industry) turn their backs on such movies. We still go after the usual star oriented, predictable and mostly mundane kind of film that cinema elsewhere seem to be growing out of. There are so many innovatively different movies coming up in Hindi and Tamil; Sharaz and I were thrilled on seeing ‘Chalo Dilli’ (Hindi) and liked ‘Vaanam’ (Tamil). Hope things will change for Malayalam Cinema too; there are some signs of this happening here too. Let’s hope for the best…
Two things that I’d like to add as sort of post-script here…
This is what Sharaz had to say after seeing the movie- “I had always wanted to do something in films. But my thoughts were always high-flying, like making a movie with all kinds of special effects, something like ‘Matrix’ or something that would leave people spellbound. I’d think of the kind of films that Shah Rukh Khan, my favourite star, does. But ‘Stanley Ka Dabba’ is the kind of film that never featured in my imaginations. The film made me realise that we need not think big and go for big things to make movies; we can take things from our lives, from our experiences and make wonderfully different movies. I have come to realise that even small, ordinary things from day-to-day life can contribute towards making films that are really ‘big’. I was able to identify with Stanley and what all was happening there, in the school. I was touched by the message the film conveys in the end. I also have come to understand that if creative artists strive to narrate personal experiences in their personal style, it would be the best of things that can happen to art and cinema”.
- Our boss Sholto was narrating a story, an interesting story yesterday. He’d love to see it made into a cinema. He was commenting that Indian Cinema is still centered around the stars, the likes of Shah Rukh Khan and Mammootty and Mohanlal. Well I do agree to that; but at the same time, I am happy that films like ‘Stanley Ka Dabba‘ are happening… Great indeed!
Kerala all set to be an intellectual destination
Published December 9, 2010 | 
Kerala has many firsts to its credits in tourism, literary and cultural scenario. From being one of the must see destinations in the world,featured in prestigious tourist magazines and National Geographic Channel Kerala is evolving to be a tourist destination that will be intellectually exhilarating to visitors from all over the world.
Kerala has been playing host to many literary festivals like the recently held Hay Festival of Literature and Arts in the State capital, Thiruvananthapuram, which was attended by many national and international literary figures and writers including Vikram Seth, William Dalrymple, Sebastian Faulks, rock stars Sting and Bob Geldof and the stalwart of Malayalam film Adoor Gopalakrishnan.
The travelers who look for a satisfying experiencing to satiate their interests in arts and literature would find Kerala a best choice. The film and theatre festivals that form part of the Kerala mythic that is well complimented by a culturally inclined audience has played a major role in enhancing its intellectual ratings. With various International theater festivals and arts exhibitions lined up to be hosted, Kerala is all set to position itself as an intellectual destination for the discerning and sophisticated traveller in search of an extra ordinary experience .
What's ailing Malayalam Cinema? A film lover's angst!
Published March 12, 2010 | What ails Malayalam cinema these days has perhaps come to light mostly with the Thilakan issue. I speak from a movie lover’s perspective and without too much knowledge of factions, Federations, Associations etc. that seem to have cropped up in the industry.
To name the ones I know – AMMA, FEFKA, MACTA and the numerous Superstar Fans Associations all seem to be big players in the whole issue. If you try to read up about this in the media you realise there is not much of reporting going on about this problem.
A few questions: Why is the media seeming tied down? Why doesn’t someone report who is doing the arm-twisting here? Why are great actors like Thilakan having to walk out of good roles because of AMMA? Why should an Association decide who acts in what movie and why?
Movie artist associations are, I presume, formed to help co-actors in the field… so why are they the deciders in an actor’s call-sheet? Why is an association seemingly punishing members and interfering in the business of filmmaking? Why did Thilakan now get a compensation?
A request to the film fraternity, fans and people like you and me who lament the death of great Malayalam cinema – let’s all examine why great movies are not being made.
Also a special request to our superstars Mammootty and Mohanlal, both already producers as well, to produce all kinds of films and help new talent come in.
Finally to Malayalis everywhere:
What has happened to our sensibilities as film lovers why are we lapping up slap-stick comedies and mannerisms one after the other for years now?
Why don’t we go out to watch smaller films and encourage new talent?
Why are, we, as fans and Fans Associations hampering good cinema?
What can we do? Let’s free art, let’s dismantle power-wielding Associations, Federations and Fans Associations and let’s not patronise movies made to make money alone. Stop laughing at oft-repeated comedy genre movies that seems to be ruling the roost.
I hope I have ruffled a few feathers in case this post gets picked up by the film world and please know that I’m only voicing the angst of a large, a very large number of Malayalis everywhere who took pride in our films.
This post is nothing but a humble protest …but make no mistake, a protest indeed this is.
Conclusion: Let me end by hoping all our Malayalam actors, who by the way are so talented that you can’t actually think of a bad actor in Kerala films, will see that such Associations and Federations are only straight-jacketing art.
And whenever art is not free it is freedom that is being curtailed and this should never happen! Save Malayalam cinema, free art, and foster talent should be our only mantra.
IFFK ends: 'Jermal' and 'About Elly' share top honours
Published December 19, 2009 | 
The Indonesian film ‘Jermal’ and the Iranian film ‘About Elly’ share top honours at the 14th IFFK (International Film Festival of Kerala), which concluded at Thiruvananthapuram yesterday.The awards:
- ‘Jermal’, directed by Ravi Barwani and ‘About Elly’, directed by Asghar Farhadi, have been chosen to share the Golden Crow Pheasant (Suvarna Chakoram).
- ‘True Noon’ from Tadjikistan, directed by Nosir Saidov, bagged the Silver Crow Pheasant Award (Rajata Chakoram) for the best director and ‘My Secret Sky’ from South Africa, directed by Madoda Ncayiyana, the Silver Crow Pheasant Award for the best debut director.
- ‘True Noon’ also bagged the Audience award, being voted the best film by the delegates who took part in the festival.
- The Marathi film ‘Harischandrachi Factory’, directed by Paresh Mokashi, got the Hassankutty Award for the best Indian debut director while Ranjith’s ‘Kerala Cafe’ got the NETPAC Award for the best Malayalam film.
- ‘A Fly in Ashes’ by Argentinean filmmaker Gabriela David got the FIPRESCI Award for the best film).
- ‘Paththaam Nilayile Theevandi’, directed by Joshy Mathew won the FIPRESCI Award for the best Malayalam film.
- ‘Jermal’ directed by Ravi Bharwani was awarded the NETPAC Award for the best Asian film in the competition section.
The festival
The IFFK, which has won over the years a reputation for itself, got on to its 14th editing with veteran filmmaker Mrinal Sen lighting the inaugural lamp on Dec 11 and the Turkish film, ‘A Step into Darkness,’ directed by Atil Inaq being screened as the inaugural film.
More than 160 films were screened, in different sections, in eight theatres in Thiruvananthapuram. The competition section had 14 entries, including two Malayalam films- Priyanandanan’s ‘Sufi Paranja Katha’ and Madhu Kaithapram’s ‘Madhyavenal’.
The retrospective sections included films by Mexican director Arturo Ripstein, Japanese filmmaker Mikio Naruse, French filmmaker Jaques Tati and Indian filmmakers Mrinal Sen and Lohithadas. There was a package of films by Italian director Francesco Rosi and homage section dedicated to the memories of Murali, Madhavikutty, Shobhana Parameshwaran Nair, Rajan.P.Dev, K.P.Thomas and Adoor Bhavani.
The contemporary masters section had films by Raul Peck and Pen-ek Ratanaruang while there were Country focus films on Cuba and films from contemporary Africa. There was also a section for debut films and a package called ’50 years of French New Wave’.
A first hand account
IFFK has been part of my life-plan ever since it began in Thiruvananthapuram. Of course the IFFK had its beginnings in Kozhikode in a small way, but I have been proud to be a part of all the editions of IFFK that has been held in the capital city, Thiruvananthapuram, the city with which I have had a strong emotional bonding, like many of my friends and peers.
Well, when I took the early train from Kochi on the 12th of December, aiming to make as much of the film festival as possible in the four days that were at my disposal, I didn’t know that the train would be a bit late and I’d have to miss out on one show due to problems relating to procuring my entry pass for the fest. Anyway, with timely help provided by the Chalachitra Academy Secretary Dr.K.S.Sreekumar (who’s also the Executive Director of the festival) and others, I managed to get my pass in hand, all laminated and ready by 1 pm. Then on, it was, as usual, reading the synopsis of different movies in the festival book and moving on to theatres after theatres eager to catch up with films after films.
The crowds seemed to be there, eager to lap up all the films, especially the contemporary ones and the competition films. The four days that I spent at Thiruvananthapuram, as usual, was nothing less than great, a real good break from my usual work and other chores, a departure from the mundane and a take off to things that would propel me to be happy and contented with the mundane things till the next edition of the IFFK, the 15th IFFK.
I liked being part of the crowd in seeing films like ‘Jermal’, ‘True Noon’, ‘About Elly’, ‘Dream’ (there were friends joking that the director Kim Ki-Duk has no admirers in Korea and his admirers are all here, in Kerala), ‘Sweet Rush’ etc. (Well, there were people sitting even on the floor, all crammed up, to watch these films).
I also took time to watch in peace some of the films that didn’t attract that much of a crowd, like P.A.Backer’s ‘Manimuzhakkam’ (which I had been desiring to see for a long time), Cheran’s ‘Pokkisham’ and Saeed Mirza’s ‘Ek Tho Chance’; and I was pleased to see a fairly good number of people coming to see Francois Truffaut’s 1962 movie ‘Jules et Jim’, one of the most talked about movies of all times.
At the same time, I regretted being not able to see some of the most talked about movies in the festival, including ‘Anti Christ’ and ‘Shirin’. I longed to re-visit films in the Mrinal Sen retrospective, most of which I had seen earlier. (Well, that happens in all film festivals, especially when you have to choose from seven or eight films that are being screened simultaneously).
The talks that I had about with films with friends and festival regulars and people from the world of films like Thampy Antony (actor and producer based in the U.S), director Sohanlal, an African filmmaker (whose name I forgot) among others proved enriching.
It was with a not-so happy heart (because there were 3 more days of the festival to go) and at the same time with a happy heart too (because I was richer now despite having spent money out of my pocket for travelling, accommodation, food etc- richer because I had earned things more valuable than money) that I left Thiruvananthapuram and clambered on to the train to Kochi.
14th IFFK: Capital city gets ready to greet film-buffs
Published November 17, 2009 | 
Thiruvananthapuram (a.k.a Trivandrum), the capital city of Kerala gets ready once again to accord a warm welcome to film-buffs who have made it a habit to gather in the city in the second week of December every year.
Beginning with the second Saturday of December, Thiruvananthapuram plays host to the annual IFFK (International Film Festival of Kerala), organised by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy on behalf of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Films from all over the world and selected films made in Indian languages are showcased and hundreds of film-enthusiasts from all across Kerala and even outside Kerala throng Thiruvananthapuram to partake of the fervour that has become synonymous to the IFFK.
IFFK, which has its own reputation in the international circuits too, is now on to its 14th edition, which will be held from the 11th of December to the 18th of December, 2009. On the one hand while the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy are gearing up to host the festival, film-buffs have started planning and packing their bags to make it to Thiruvananthapuram. The IFFK has, over the years, earned for itself a reputation in the international film festival circuits and film-makers from all over are eager to get their films showcased here.
14th IFFK likely to honour Oscar winners
The latest buzz that’s streaming in about the 14th IFFK (International Film Festival of Kerala), to be held from the 11th to the 18th of December, 2009, is that the organisers are planning to felicitate Oscar winners A.R.Rahman, Resul Pookutty and Gulzar of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ fame. Plans are in the offing to honour these artists in the inaugural ceremony, but the organisers are yet to get a confirmation from Rahman, Resul and Gulzar. Film-lovers of course are eagerly awaiting confirmation of this news, which of course would add colours to the festival.