MALATHI RANGARAJAN

Four Tamil films have been selected for IFFI 2008 beginning in November.

THE CHOSEN FEW Kanchivaram, Billa.

If recognition is the yardstick for quality then Tamil filmmakers have done the industry proud. Four Tamil films — ‘Kanchivaram,’ ‘Kalloori,’ ‘Mudhal Mudhal Mudhal Varai’ (‘M3V’) and ‘Billa& #8217; — have been selected under different categories for the 39th International Film Festival of India 2008, Goa, opening on November 22. Topping the list is Priyadarshan’s ‘Kanchivaram.’

First Tamil competitor

Starring Prakash Raj and Shriya Reddy, ‘Kanchivaram,’ is the first Tamil film to enter the festival at the competition level. The country’s other entry is ‘Mahasatta’ (Marathi). Of course ‘Pulijanmam’ (Malayalam) and the non-feature film ‘Bishar Blues’ (Bengali), on account of their national awards, gain automatic entry.

“This is the first realistic film of my career,” begins Priyadarshan, whose mass entertainers are only too well known. “I did a lot of home work for the project. Mostly the need for silk arises on two occasions — marriage, and rituals after death. But the weavers who make the material can never afford it for themselves. This irony is my peg,” he says. His dad, a playwright himself, would often talk about this irony. The impact on the son has resulted in ‘Kanchivaram.’

Priyadarshan is piqued that ‘Kanchivaram’ is being termed anti-communist. “It’s not. In fact, it deals with the co-operative society movement and the angst and hapless state of the weavers,” he says. The period film begins in 1920 and ends on the day of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Already accolades have come its way at Dubai, Berlin and Toronto film festivals. “The 10-minute standing ovation after the screening at Toronto is unforgettable,” he says. And encomiums from stalwarts Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Shyam Benegal have been tremendous morale boosters. “The film is on its way to Palm Springs next and the IFFI competition is another laurel,” he laughs.

Mudhal Mudhal Mudhal Varai (M3V) and Kalloori

“Neither the super hit, ‘Kaadhal’ nor the true-to-life ‘Kalloori,’ fetched awards for me as a maker. So this recognition gives some solace. All the same if it is subtitled and sent as entry for our national awards I’ll be even more thrilled,” is director Balaji Saktivel’s refrain. His ‘Kalloori,’ based on the incident of three college students getting burnt in a political melee that shocked the State a few years ago, has been selected for screening in the Indian Panorama section from a score and more movies from all over the country.

An honour

‘M3V’ is the other entry in this section — quite an honour as it is director Krishnan Seshadri Gomatam’s debut film.

“God is great,” he looks up. “I have to thank Lenin for it. He was the one who insisted I send the film. And filmmaker Hariharan encouraged me saying it would open newer avenues for me.” Is the announcement a shot in the arm after ‘M3V’s short span in the city’s theatre circuit? “But the response from viewers and the critical acclaim have been mind-blowing. We got only morning shows. My target audience isn’t the kind to wake up early to visit the cinemas for a 9 a.m. show. So it was the timings that were wrong,” he contends. “I’m thrilled that a first timer like me made it to the IFFI,” he adds.

‘Billa’ is one among five films (including three in Hindi and one in Bengali) selected for screening for its commercial content. “‘Billa’ has also been selected for the Cairo International Film Festival next month,” volunteers its producer L. Suresh. But is he as thrilled as he was when his ‘Oorukku Nooru Paer’ won the National Award for Best Film? “All said and done that was the Golden Lotus from the President himself. Yet a commercial winner like ‘Billa’ being chosen for an international audience is an honour,” he smiles.

Directors: Priyadarshan, Krishnan Seshadri Gomatam, Balaji Saktivel and L. Suresh.

The welcome note of the fest states that films for screening have been selected on the basis of their “cinematic, thematic and aesthetic excellence.” The criterion automatically catapults these films to a niche category.

Source: The Hindu (Dated October 31 2008)