Apr 28, 2007

Thiruvanathapuram -Month-long film appreciation course from 10th May 2007.

The Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) is organising a month-long course in film appreciation, which will cover among other things the growth and history of world cinema and the technical aspects of film-making.

Discussions on the history and techniques of films which became milestones in the history of cinema and on films which rewrote history will figure in the course. P.K. Nair, former Director of the Pune Film Archives and former film appreciation course director of the Pune Film Institute, is the course adviser. Eminent personalities from the film field will take classes on various aspects of cinema. The course fee is Rs.4,000.

The KSFDC will meet the cost of boarding and arrange accommodation at low cost. The course will begin on May 10. Details can be had from Lenin Rajendran, Film Officer (Telephone 944774566, 2325325) or downloaded from the website www.ksfdc.org. Application forms are available from the Kalabhavan and cinemas of the KSFDC in Thrissur, Kozhikode, Cherthala, North Paravur and Chittur on payment of Rs.100.

http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/12/stories/2007041203540300.htm

Apr 23, 2007

Where is realism?

( K. Jeshi writes about the meeting organised by Konangal with Yamuna Rajendran in The Hindu - Metroplus)
Film criticism should be based on principles to bring about a societal change, says film critic Yamuna Rajendran.

Is Maniratnam's Guru a milestone in Indian cinema? Why is the sword sequence in Pudupettai compared to Akira Kurosawa's filmmaking? Why is Paruthiveeran considered a realistic movie?

Yamuna Rajendran, Tamil film critic from London, raised these questions and gave the answers too at an interaction with film lovers organised by Konangal Film Society.

"The protagonist in Paruthiveeran is chased by 60 people. He reaches a safe place; the others reach 25 minutes later. Where is realism here and why is such a movie compared to Latin-American filmmaking? And, is the free trade concept propagated in Guru the only route to success?" he asks.

This is where film criticism comes in, he states. "Globalisation encourages `aesthetic' criticism. What we require is `principles-based' criticism to tell people about world cinema, about reality and try to bring about a change," says Yamuna Rajendran, whose book, Arasiyal cinema - 16 film makers, talks about the creative world and the unique film making of Ritwik Ghatak, Oliver Stone, Akira and other master film makers.

Chaos in audience

He says restrained critiques create chaos in the minds of the audience. "But, when criticism is based on principles, it exposes the fakeness in commercial cinema and redefines societal values."

Filmmakers in the 60s started off as film critics. "Directors like Jean-Luc-Godard from Greece, American film maker Robert Redford and Italian film makers presented films based on the political developments. And, film festivals such as Cannes or the one in London served as a get-together for bringing about such change," he adds. Now, they have turned battlegrounds.

If Chinese films gained importance in the `80s with realistic portrayals of the situation in China, Iranian cinema narrated the struggles, the political situation and the poverty of the people through the eyes of children.

Knowledge of history

"The elements of historical consciousness, time of the event and the place are missing in new-age filmmaking. They exaggerate, deviate or distract the audience from serious issues. A film like Kannathil Muthamittal fails to deal with any central phenomenon, a historical issue or an ethnic issue," he adds.

This film critic rates Julie Ganapathy as a black mark in director Balu Mahendra's career. "It is a shot-by-shot copy of Steven Kings' Misery. However, his Sandhya Raagam is a masterpiece," he adds. Asked about Cheran's Autograph and Thavamai Thavamirundhu, he says: "When compared to the existing Tamil films, new concepts look better."

Activist cinema

Rajendran, who has watched over 6,000 films, says alternative cinema (documentaries and short-films) have taken on the role of activists to handle social issues.

Kanchana Srinivasan agrees. A documentary filmmaker, he has been running a film society in Tirunelveli for 16 years, and has come out with a film on the Thamirabararani issue. "Look for issues around you and convert them into films," he says.

K. JESHI

Courtesy :The Hindu Metroplus dated 23 04 2007.

Murder most foul

Like good books, murder mysteries never go out of fashion, writes PANKAJA SRINIVASAN as Alfred Hitchcock works his scary charm on Coimbatore's movie buffs.

"A good film is when the price of the dinner, the theatre admission and the babysitter were worth it". So said Alfred Hitchcock.

And, film buffs in Coimbatore had no argument with that as they sat through the master's retrospective and watched Rear Window, Vertigo and Psycho.

There is something to be said for watching films with a roomful of movie-mad people. There is a festive buzz, with posters and brochures put up on Hitchcock and the other directors whose works have already been screened by the Konangal Film Society.

Window treatment

Rear Window is great fun. For starters it has a good-looking cast. James Stewart is, well, James Stewart, and Grace Kelly, who plays his girlfriend, looks spectacular (Did you know that she was very first actress to appear on a postage stamp, in 1993).

It is about an injured photographer, confined to a wheelchair. (Hitchcock is said to have based the story on the real life romance said to be happening between Ingrid Bergman and photographer Robert Capa at that time). He is bored, so he passes time looking out of his window into his neighbours' homes.


Each window he peeps into has a story being played out. Voyeurism pays. He discovers that one of his neighbours has murdered his wife. An interesting fact is that the entire film has been shot on set (at the time, it was the largest set ever constructed).

A lively interaction follows the screening. Someone asks whether it was `ethical' for Hitchcock to make the protagonist a voyeur. Camera angles and background music are talked of; parallels are drawn between what is happening in the protagonist's life and the lives of his neighbours — the comments take interesting twists and turns.

Pure entertainment

Till, another viewer says: "It is an entertaining movie, let's just leave it at that."
Nevertheless, over an ilai saapadu (provided by the organisers at Rs. 50 per head with two tea-and-biscuit breaks as well) Hitchcock's style and substance is discussed some more.

And, then another masterpiece, Vertigo (James Stewart and Kim Novak). Martin Scorsese has said of the film, "Vertigo strikes a deep chord in me every time I see it."As, indeed, it does, with its sense of mystery, a touch of the supernatural that is eerie, beautiful and gripping all at the same time.

Satisfyingly psycho!

By now there is only one thought in everyone's head — Psycho (Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh).
You'll never look at a shower curtain again without misgivings. The bathroom scene was all that it was promised to be, and more. And, Perkins playing Norman Bates is satisfyingly psychotic! And the background music is amazing.

(Hitchcock was so pleased with the score written by Bernard Herrmann that he doubled the composer's salary to $34,501 and said, "33 per cent of the effect of Psycho was due to the music").

It is a rare treat to watch films made by the masters. And, discussions, debates and interaction about the films and the filmmakers are a bonus. Konangal made special efforts to bring that extra something into the screening. In this case, an interview with Alfred Hitchcock where he declares poker-faced, that there is not much difference between him wanting to make Psycho to scare people and a young mother saying `boo' to her three-month-old baby!

* * *

Konangal's aim is to reach good cinema to as many people as possible. It is particularly keen to get school and college students to view good films, and is more than happy to organise shows for them. It is also planning a children's film festival during the summer vacation.

For details about subscription and events, contact Pon Chandran at 94430-39630 or email to konangal@gmail.com.

Visit their blog http://konangalfilmsociety.blogspot.com/

Courtesy The Hibdu , Metroplus 23 04 2007

Apr 15, 2007

Hitchcock Film Festival

We thank all cinema lovers who attended today's Hitchcock Film Festival held at PPG Nursing College Auditorium, Saravanampatti.

We thank Dr.Thangavelu for providing the auditorium for screening and also Dr.Rajendran.

We are grateful to the Press for all thier support and coverage.

We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.

We welcome your feedbak on Hitchcock Film Festival. Please write to konangal@gmail.com