| CINEMA IS the most popular Art form in Kerala. The visual charm conjured up by the interplay of light and shadow has caught Malayalee imagination as the most popular mode of entertainment. And Kerala is one of the most prolific film-producing centres in India without compromising on content and quality. But, of late, it is passing through a crisis period. Cinema is fighting hard for its survival due to increased competition from the innumerable channels, offering movie stuff and tearjerkers apart from the menace of video piracy.
Kerala has one of the most discerning spectators in India. They do not hesitate to accept good cinema, be it from the commercial or parallel art field. And Kerala is one of the few places in India where Art Films enjoy a fairly good attendance. This could be attributed to the efforts made by the Film Societies.
COMMERCIAL MOVIES
Directors like Fazil, Priyadarshan, Tulasi Das and Vinayan played an important role in the commercial Movie scenario where the entertainment value and the financial returns are taken into consideration. Commercial Movies rule the roost here and serves up as an escape mechanism for the common man from the grind of daily life.
ART MOVIES
Right from swayamvarem in the 70’s, parallel cinema had carved a niche for itself in the Malayalam Cinema World. These films are supposed to be ‘meaningful movies’ where the intellect of the audience is not questioned and profit making is not the ulterior motive.
Luminaries like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, G. Aravindan, and Shaji. N. Karun and T.V Chandran helped to elevate Malayalam movies to a higher realm.
Malayalam Movies have made a name for itself at the International level through the conscious efforts of these masters. Movies like Piravi, Vanaprastham, Vidheyan, Kathapurushan, Ponthan Mada etc have won several laurels at the International scene.
‘MIDDLE OF THE ROAD’ MOVIES
The stream of Movies distinctively different from the parallel and mainstream Cinema is called ‘ Middle of the road’ Movies. Good Entertainment coupled with cinematic values is their abiding motto.
Padmarajan, Bharathan, Sibi Malayil, Lohita Das and Hariharan fall in to this category. They presented their themes in a structure which is unique, combining the best of both the Art and Commercial world.
ARTISTS
Malayalam Movie scene is gifted with several talented Actors and Actresses. They have brought in National and International laurels to their Homeland. P.J Antony, Balan K. Nair, Gopi, Mammooty, Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi and Balachandra Menon brought us the BHARATH AWARD for the best central male character.
Nedumudi Venu, Murali, Thilakan, Kalabhavan Mani, KPAC Lalitha, Manju Warrier and Joe Mol were also honoured for their acting capabilities. And Shobhana, Saradha and Monisha were honoured with URVASI award.
Heroines of Kerala origin rarely, performed well here. This segment presents a sad picture even now.
Kerala was always forced to depend on neighbouring states for the requisite supply of Actresses. Except for a few like Sheela, Jayabharathi, Travancore Sisters (Padmini, Ragini and Lalitha), Shobhana and Manju Warrier, the female counter part of acting manifests a pathetic scene.
The new hopefuls rarely stayed for long. After acting in a handful of pictures they left the scene to tie the wedlock . The latest entrant to this category is Manju Warrier, an actor par excellence and an extremely popular artist among young and old. She charmed the audiences with her acting prowess and after her marriage to Co-star Dileep, she packed the bags and left. Generally speaking we have plenty of one film wonder heroines.
FILMS ON FEMINIST ISSUES
Not many films are made here in Kerala on feminist issues. It is a rare occurrence . It should have been a frequent affair given the better social status and the literacy among Keralite women. Films like Adaminte Variyellu, Alicinte Anveshvanem, Mankamma, Ilayum Mullum were made on this. But the usual practice in Kerala in Malayalam Movies is that Women Characters are not given prominence and are relegated to the backyard portraying them as either sisters or mothers.
It is a hero dominated arena, where the entire gamut of the cinema story revolves round the actions and activities of the hero.
ASSOCIATIONS AND UNIONS
Kerala is a land of intense political activity. And persons working in the film industry are not immune from this phenomenon. Associations like ‘MACTA’ and ‘AMMA’ work in an efficient way to better the lot of those who are involved in the film making process in various capacities. Of late the scope and action of these associations have widened, paving the way for them to enforce control and co-ordination in the field.
Constant sparring between different organisations dominates the film scene now. The recent decision taken by the General Council of MACTA to ban certain films which violated the particular release norms prescribed by the council stems from the question of rights and duties of each and every association or union and also on the question that who has the right to indulge in what.
FILM SOCIETIES
Malayalam film-world was always blessed with the activities of good film societies. Soorya, Chalachithra and Arya, play an important role not just in the sphere of Cinema but also in the cultural arena as well. They regularly conduct Film Festivals to promote good films and to intimate their members of the happenings at World Cinema Forum.
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