*The Hindu report - Seminar on Democratization of Cinema and prallel show of ‘ * *Yathi-the Pause in Between' directed by satheesh mullakkal* ** *http://www.hindu.com/2010/08/02/stories/2010080250620200.htm* Photo: Special Arrangement
*FOR PARALLEL CINEMA:Media person Shashi Kumar, screenplay writer John Paul and filmmaker Vinayan at a film discussion in Kochi on Sunday. * *‘Definition of box office has shrunk' * Kochi: In a recap of the heyday of film societies in the State, ‘ Yathi-the Pause in Between', a film made by a group of enthusiastic youngsters and directed by debutant Satheesh Mullakkal, premiered at a parallel venue, the Maharaja's College Auditorium, here on Sunday. Produced by ‘Theatre Lab', a centre for experimental theatre studies, Yathi's premier show was aptly preceded with a debate on the ‘Democratisation Cinema'. Presenting the topic, Shashi Kumar, Chairman of the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, said that the very concept of ‘democratisation' should be probed. “Should we democratise cinema or should we look at the democratisation of the audience?” he asked. As a case in point, Mr. Shashi Kumar cited Hindi cinema as having shifted to a milieu exclusive of ‘village' and argued that the definition of box office had shrunk. “Village was a virtual presence in Hindi cinema in the 1960s. The milieu has now become completely urban: shopping malls, bars, clubs… The box office has been undemocratised,” he said. Mr. Shashi Kumar said that in olden times, ‘B' and ‘C' class exhibition halls had helped many films succeed, as they would have repeat audiences. “Cinema was really reaching out to the public then. But we only have ‘A' class cinema halls now,” he said. Throwing light on the technological shift from the analogue to the digital era, he said that the great values of filmmaking in the past would perhaps not remain so now. The camera, for instance, was no longer sacred as even a layperson using a mobile phone camera or a digital camera had become aware of the concept of frame. “So the public knows a lot more than we think they know. Filmmakers should understand this shift in social status and try to be on top of this,” he said. Talking about ‘iconisation' of lead actors (superstars) that has spawned a culture of ‘star-gazing', Mr. Shashi Kumar maintained that this had stripped films of their innate composite art nature. “This kind of metanarrative is called fascism, except that there is a host of fascists in charge,” he said. Lamenting the homogenisation—he calls it ‘Hollywoodisation'— of films across the world, he accused filmmakers of being partly responsible for the current crisis. “You've created a culture of expectation on the part of the audience and then are unable to deliver quality films,” he said. Pitching for government intervention by constituting a body to look into the social crisis facing filmmaking in the State, Mr. Shashi Kumar said that such a discourse should not be left to actors' or technicians' forums. “Unless this is done, the Kerala film industry will be like the Karnataka film industry, in a shambles,” he cautioned, urging the government to set up parallel art cinema houses. Screenplay writer John Paul, who presided over and moderated the debate, said that filmmakers should have the ‘urge' to create quality movies to enhance the sensibility of the ordinary movie-goer. Noted film critic C.S. Venkiteswaran highlighted the issue of excess—the excess of present and the presence of excess—as responsible for the crisis. Filmmakers Vinayan and Dr. Biju, theatre personality Gopan Chidambaram, and writer Muse Mary George spoke. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB.
