Journeys to the Past

Interview with CM (Oommen Chandy)

IFFK Spotlight: Interview with Bina Paul

IFFK Spotlight: Interview with Bina Paul

Remya P.P. & Parvathy Vijayan

On the Glory of "Kaliyachan"

IFFK Spotlight: Interview with Raveendran

Come on, Young film Makers...

IFFK Spotlight: Interview with Raveendran

Pooja V

Roopasree I.V.

Perseverance and much more…

 Perseverance and much more…

Karthika C

“Good films will be the major attraction of the 16th International Film Festival of Kerala. A wide variety of films produced by great masters like Nagisa Oshima and  Roberto Bresson and the new age directors like Semith Kaplanoglu, Jafar Panahi will be exhibited in this festival”, said Bina Paul , the artistic director of the 16th IFFK  in an interview with spotlight. “We present before you a varied but balanced package”.

  Bina Paul recollected the days when IIFK was started as a low profile event at Calicut in 1996 under the leadership of former NFAI director PK Nair. “The grand success of the festival motivated them to conduct it annually. The initial idea was to make it a travelling fest. But after a couple of fests, practical difficulties in building up the infrastructure every year at different places made them stick to one place, Thiruvananthapuram. However, the goal is to make it even better and the effort is on every year”.

  Bina said all the former Chairmen of the Academy have done their best to make IFFK a memorable event.” Adoor sir was adamant that it should not be a festival of extravaganza. It should totally stand for cinema and only for cinema. And it is his legacy that we still follow! Rajeev Kumar took the effort to make the event better organized. During K.R. Mohanan’s period, the festival became more popular as the people’s festival.  The present chairman Priyadarshan wants IFFK to be made truly international in quality and reach”, the celebrated editor remarked.

  The coordinators under Bina’s  leadership have been trying to provide better facilities  for food, transportation and solving parking problems. They have also introduced provision for online payment of delegate fee. One can also register for the pass even through android phones.

  “While Priyadarshan is the chairman of IFFK, members in the team include eminent people like Joshy Mathew and Ranjith, all part of the filmfraternity. There are also several committees; a committee for selection of films, a preview committee, a hospitality committee, a programming committee, a print coordination committee and so on. The state Minister for Film K.B. Ganesh Kumar, being a part of both the film fraternity and the government, has been extremely supportive as the President of the Film festival”, Bina pointed out.

 Bina Paul

  Talking about the major changes after she took office in 2003, Bina Paul observed that the programming has improved a lot and the attitude of the audience has changed dramatically; they now watch films more seriously and are recognizing the importance of this space.  Moreover, the process of bringing films for the festival has changed. There is more awareness among people about the standard of films screened at the IFFK and its worth. Today directors themselves are interested in exhibiting their films in IFFK. That was not the case five years ago!

  Bina was all smiles when  mentioning about her learning experience during the process. She said that while taking decisions, it was essential for them to keep in mind that they were not catering to one person but to the whole of Kerala. This was a big challenge and a great learning experience. Kerala, being a socially conscious society, people would immediately react to little acts like changes in time schedules or changes in the list of films. But then also she was extremely happy in her job and as long as she gets a good film, she was content.

   “No festival belongs to one person. It is a team effort. Someone has to take the mantle. This time, the responsibility is on my shoulders. But if I am not here, somebody else would carry out the task as efficiently as or even better than me. But in terms of the work I am very committed and dedicated” Bina Paul said beaming.

   “A lot of hard work goes into the selection of films to be screened. It takes a whole year to plan them. We form different committees for World Cinema, Malayalam Cinema, and Competition Cinema.  The chairman has a right to suggest a film in Malayalam cinema package and I have the right to suggest films under the World Cinema section. It is difficult to choose and many a times, it could be a matter of subjectivity. Something you like may not be the one that I like. But the final selection is done through a systematic process and there is no scope for disparities.”

  When asked about IFFK planning a shift to Calicut, she said it is a matter to be decided by the Government.

Endeavoring to create another hit fest

Endeavoring to create another hit fest

The ace director Priyadarshan, who made us laugh our hearts out with Kilukkam ,kept us wonderstruck with Kancheevaram, gave a tinge of pain with Chitram and Thalavattom opens up his mind in a chat with second year MCJ students Visakh M, Harishma A S, Divya Vasu, HridHya Menon, Beena Anitha & Haridas K. C. 

Excerpts:

Festival attractions and concerns

This years film festival  will be indeed a  memorable one   as there are many attractions awaiting you. The most significant of those attractions would be a 2K projection system to improve the quality of films screening. Due to lack of sufficient funds academy could set up this system only in Sree Padmanabha. The festival which brings down films from across the world to our small state will be a unique one this time, that’s for sure.

Over the years, the festival has attracted an ever increasing number of entries and this time participation is at par with highly acclaimed film festivals. Another debutorial venture by IFFK is the “Cinema Market”    to bridge the gap between the international film promoters and the film makers in the Malayalam film industry. Malayalam film industry has a rich culture and studies on it would pave a platform to reach the global audience.

Controversy is a part of the festival.Academy has solid answers for the controversies spewed at it. Every International festival has it own rules which are meant to be observed. As per the norms   a film which participates in an A class festival is not supposed to participate in another A class Fest. Cannes and Toronto festivals too follow the same policy. This is the reason why the much acclaimed film “Adaminte Makan Abu” was excluded from the competition section. ‘Adimadhyantham’ which sparked controversies was dropped from festival as wrong affidavit was filed before the authorities. Academy cannot be blamed.

Priyan as a friend

I’ve several friends. The post of Academy chairman is indeed a threat to my friendship which I’ve carried over the years. For instance my close friend Santhosh Sivan’s ‘Urumi’ is not included in the competition section. Since he is aware of the technical issues involved, it didn’t create any problem. But there are people who interpret such actions wrongly.

Bolly vs Molly

With a mischievous smile on his face Priyan adds, they have money but we don’t. We cannot make films with all the splendour and glory we see in Bollywood movies due to shortage of funds. Bollywood actors are nowhere in comparison with Mollywood.  Bollywood celebrities need grooming sessions before a film whereas in Mollywood acting comes naturally. Sharukh Khan and Akshay Kumar belongs to this category but he was all praise for Naseeruddin Shah and Paresh Rawal. The number of national film awards this small state has bagged so far makes one wonder about the magnitude of talent in Kerala.

The Academy Chairman –Priyadarshan

Sitting in chair all day irks me as I used to run around the locations so much for work. To avoid discomfort I walk around my room and balcony in the office, adds Priyan with a smile. Despite all these I am enjoying the job entrusted upon me. Besides Cinema I’ve a genuine interest in playing and watching cricket.

About the Santosh Pandit Factor Priyan comments that the unexpected crowd puller is being mocked by the audience and its in no way a scoff at Malayalam Cinema. If we continually make such films, the movie goers will set the theatres ablaze.

Newest  from Priyan…

The magical duo Mohanlal and Priyadarshan teams up again for ‘Arabiyum Ottakavum P Madhavan Nayarum’. The film is a comical satire ,something for the audience to laugh their hearts out. I’m interested in all types of films and I love experimenting. I’ve done with films catering to different subjects. My next venture deals with the angst of eight people going for blood test. AIDS  is the theme of the film. Signs off Priyan.

“I like to do actions without attachments”

“I like to do actions without attachments”

Renowned agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan hails from Mankombu village in Kerala where people from all caste and creeds belonging to both rich and poor strata of society stand united in preserving the fragile ecosystem. ‘Though the past glory of nature has been lost forever the greenery in my village still remains. My early life is something which really remains in me as such’, says the father of our green revolution.

Excerpts from a conversation with Swaminathan.

Gokul P & Shilpa S R

Transitions in Kerala

It is sad to see that people give much importance to dowry, gold and alcohol. I think Kerala again has to regain the glory of yester years in sectors like public health and education to lead more productive life. This is very important for the future of Kerala.

Changes in Biodiversity

There were lots of medicinal plants here. Even new species of rice from Malampuzha were there. There was a proposal to destroy silent valley forest for an electricity project. This was during Indira Gandhi’s time. And I have made suggestions to cease this project and maintain silent valley as a biosphere, which was accepted by the government. Wayanad is also a rich example of biodiversity with coffee, tea and other plantation crops. The government has set up a biodiversity board and I hope this would make the practice of protecting biodiversity even at the panchayath level. I believe population pressure is the major threat to the proper maintenance of biodiversity. More land is being consumed for developmental purposes.

Scientist’s spiritualism

Like everyone, I also follow my own principles of spiritualism. In childhood days I used to read Vivekanada and one of the passages from his book says that life is short. One day you are a hero and the other day a zero. When we live, live for others. Naturally in life everything should be balanced. You can be a rajayogi but I like to be a karmayogi. I like to do actions without attachments. Ego is the greatest enemy of spiritual and professional growth. One who believes that he knows everything will never grow more.

When memories move faster than cosmic rays...

When memories move faster than cosmic rays...

- Gokul P

The renowned physicist & prominent scientist of Kerala Professor M. G. K. Menon goes down his memory lane in an interview to the PRISTINE NATURE. He is in the city to attend the 81st annual session of the National Academy of Sciences India organized by the University of Kerala.

Punchappadam…

  Prof. Menon cannot compare the today’s biodiversity of Kerala which his childhood with that of days. He recollects the greenery of the paddy fields in his village Punchapadam, just 20 miles away from Palakkad. His photographic memory gives magnificent images of wild elephants and herd of deer which he had seen during his visit to Wayanad with his father. Those wild sounds are now unknown to most among the youngsters and that is the reason why he cannot  compare the then biodiversity in Kerala with the present.

Dushasana Vadha

  Prof. Menon recollect the Kathakali performance, particularly the story of ‘Dushaasana vadha’ which fascinated him when he was a kid. The Kathakali performances and oil lamps which burn throughout the night attracted him to the sacred groves and temples, his most favourite childhood hangouts. Though this kid had many transitions over the years the  desire for innovations lead him to the world of cosmic rays and nuclear energy.

Days with H. J. Bhabha

  According to Professor Menon his teacher and the world famous nuclear scientist Homi J Bhabha was an excellent visionary.  “It was amazing to see him explaining the chances of producing more energy by using nuclear energy sources instead of depending on the conventional coal”. For him, Bhabha was not only a physicist but a builder of dynamic initiatives also.

                                                                                                                   

  He has expressed his concern over the top-sided growth of science in India. People are more interested to acquire positions and they place themselves in the society on the basis of other considerations. He is not ready for any negotiations or compromises. This unique character of M. G. K was appreciated by Indira Gandhi and E. K. They implemented the report submitted by M. G. K.  for the presentation of Silent Valley as a national park.