Editorial - Towards a Greener State

Univvoice IFFK Spotlight 2013, Editorial

Univvoice IFFK Spotlight 2013, Editorial

Pooja Sunil Mulleth

Editorial: പാസ്സ് മാര്‍ക്കില്ലാത്ത പത്രപ്രവര്‍ത്തനം

Festival that unites - Editorial

Festival that unites 

Editorial

      As the 17th International Film Festival of Kerala opens today there is no doubt regarding the benefits it has done both to the film makers and film lovers of the state, over the years. The festival has been a platform for all film enthusiasts to get together, watch films, discuss and appreciate them. It inspired our young film makers; for a film lover it offered novelty, variety, and class. If our critics waited for the festival with academic interest, the movie goers awaited it for entertainment and fun.

 With over two hundred films to be screened in over a dozen categories, this year’s festival, too, promises to be a grand treat. The hosts could be proud this time as two of the fourteen pictures in the competition section are in Malayalam. Last year none of our films could make it to the competition section.

 To the credit of the organizers three theatres-Kairali, Sree, Kalabhavan- have been renovated. Kairali theatre has been revamped to form a new mini theatre Nila. With this the number of government owned theatres hosting the festival has risen to four.  State of the art audio facilities have been installed, offering multiplex like experience.  The care taken to renovate the washroom facilities at the theatres also deserves appreciation.

 It is unfortunate, however, that year after year the delegate registration remains a concern. This year, the newly introduced exclusive online registration has drawn much criticism. This system, many people think, is complicated as it requires several follow ups. The decision to restrict the number of delegates, and to discard open forum, an interactive session with the film makers and the public have also caused much furore.

 The film festival is neither an exclusive stage for the film critics and serious film makers nor an event solely for public entertainment. A right mix of both these has been the highlight of the festival for years. In that sense, it is no good to take any steps that may alienate the spectators, waning the much acclaimed public participation.

For a better film culture-Editorial

For a better film culture

Films and Politics are the much abiding passions of Keralites. The swelling participants in the film festival year after year bear testimony to this reality. Breaking all records, around ten thousand people have registered for the festival this time. The increasing interest in good films among laymen will definitely create an atmosphere conducive for the birth of quality films…

This festival will be a platform where people from every nook and cranny of the state will come together, watch films from different part of the world and make the concept of good cinema reach thousands by word of mouth. This time under the stewardship of IFFK Director Priyadarshan many novel ideas have sprung up ,which will definitely make this festival worth participating. For instance 2K system has been introduced in some theatres to ensure greater technical perfection.

Malayalam films have not been represented in the competition section this year. Because of IFFK rules ‘Adaminte Makan Abu’ and ‘Aadimadhyandham’ have been excluded from the competition section to the great disappointment of the malayalis. But eight films such that represent Mollywood in the ‘Malayalam today section’ with their unique themes and treatment will definitely do us proud.

Film festivals which were meant exclusively for film buffs and industry pundits earlier, have of late started welcoming people from different strata of society. Increase in number of student participation in the fiesta, year after year is noteworthy. Through active participation they make the festival more vibrant. The festival offers a platform for the students with dreams of getting into film industry an opportunity to rub shoulders with great film personalities from different parts of the country and abroad.

 In recent years Malayali movie goers have started craving for films of the 80’s and 90’s which have left an indelible impression in their lives. This probably indicates their displeasure with the run of the mill commercial cinema with silly themes that are increasingly being churned out nowadays. Hopefully this festival will enable our film makers think differently and inspire them to make films that cater to the aspirations of the younger generation for quality films.

EDITORIAL-The era of instant Onam

The era of instant Onam

Onam is the season in which Keralites around the world are struck by a strong spell of nostalgia. We celebrate onam with great pomp and splendour for ten days.  Elaborate preparations are made for this   grand carnival beyond the barricades of caste and creed.  The festival is in reminiscence of King Mahabali’s golden rule.  During the eve of Onam streaks of festivity and fun can be witnessed everywhere in Kerala.

                Kerala’s traditional values have been eroded by the onslaught of time. Onam has now turned into a commercial fiesta. It has lost its simplicity, beauty and traditional flavor. Unfortunately extravagance has become a mark of one’s individuality. Onam, the very name itself calls for shopping where people buy some of the latest home appliances to grab a few eyeballs. As the Onam bandwagon begins to roll, businessmen in every nook and cranny of Kerala are in high spirits. Discount sales, exhibitions and fairs are organized to entice customers. Keralites have indeed lost the essence of virtues associated with this festival. In the good old days we made athapookalam with native flowers but all of them has vanished due to excessive land usage. Now we buy flowers from Tamil Nadu. Kerala has truly become a dependent state.

                Some people prefer to have onam meals from sumptuous star hotels whereas some prefer ‘instant meals’. One no longer has to search for banana leaves because artificial banana leaves are readily available. The get together of family members in the ‘tharavadu’ was a unique feature of onam, that spirit of family get-together is now fading out. Family vacation or an overseas sojourn is preferred now.  Liquor no doubt is a star today. As usual the Kerala State Beverages Corporation would be making whopping revenue from liquor sales, as the demand for the season

is massive. Being an auspicious period there would be a forced purchase of jewellery despite the skyrocketing   price of gold.

                The pristine glory of onam has completely faded out. Children now celebrate onam sitting in front of the ‘idiot box’ without feeling the spirit of onam games and traditional values. When the youngsters, the budding blooms of the nation, lose interest in Onam it raises eyebrows about the future of the colorful celebration itself.

മുഖപ്രസംഗം