Gleanings
IFFI 2008: Erratic and Ecstatic
Thamil Films cut off edges of irrelevancy:
K.S. SIVAKUMARAN
Judging by seeing at least two Thamil films at the IFFI 2008, I begin
to appreciate the content and structure of contemporary Thamil Cinema
from Kodambaakam. The films concerned were Kaanjeevaram (presently
pronounced as Kanchipuram) and Muthal Muthal, Muthal Varai. Both are
outbeat films.
While Kaanjevaram has an overtone of Marxism in the late 1940s in its
primary theme as interpreted in Thamilnadu, the other film is a serious
contour of imaginative and creative methods of film production again as
applied to Thamilnadu. Kaanjeevaram has many subtleties of human tragic
situations and realism as seen in the weaving community in rural
Thamilnadu.
The culture and rituals are basically non-Brahmin in portrayal. The
male actor Prasad Raj was there in Panaji for the premiere of the film.
He spoke well in English and when asked by some Thamilians in the
audience, he rightly said that it would be better he spoke in English in
view of the multi-lingual people assembled there. I refrain from
analysing this film in view of the limited space available.
The other film too needs a detail analysis because it is an
experimental film that pleases the advanced viewers of Thamil films. The
average Thamil film viewer wouldn’t go with the presentation and the
storyline.
Upto Thursday before last I could see only the following films: The
War Lords, A Moment in June, Love Life, Cumbia Connection, Silent Light,
Blindness, Who’s Next, The Most Distant Course, Purgatory, Secret,
Angel, Mudhal Mudhal Mudhal Varai, Honey Drppers, Night Train, Onde
Andram Dulce Veiga, Kanchivaram, The Women, Crossing Dates, Family
Rules, Absurdistan,, Scratch, Autistic Disco and Forecast.
The films are shown in six theatres for delegates- different films at
different times beginning at 9.15 A.M. to 10.30 P.M. Besides in between
there are press conferences, open forum and other delightful events.
While there are genuine film cineates, a lot more come here to have
fun and meet people even dating. I have no time for such fun although I
see how the world goes by. Besides me, the other Lankans I could meet
here were Prasanna Withanage, Malini Fonseka, Sunil and Emeritus Prof
Suchitra Gamalath.
With the terrible terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the Goans are panicky
here for their protection.
I met a few Goans here who are music and radio crazy. Some of them
are longtime listeners to the then Radio Ceylon and the present All Asia
Service of the SLBC. I was extremely pleased to hear a family say at a
cafe here that they have heard my voice over the radio.
Yes I am a freelance presenter in English over the SLBC. Robin Viegas,
Xavier Thottan are some of the radio fans who live in Goa. I met Xavier
who came down to see me at the venue of the film festival. The Goans are
like Lankans very friendly people.
They look like Lankans. The educated ones speak correct English with
the correct pronunciation.
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