Adoor to the rescue

Sanu George

The beleaguered Malayalam film industry can look forward to a face-lift with renowned Indian filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan being given the reins of the Kerala film academy.

After presiding over the first meeting of the general council of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy, its new chairman Adoor made it quite clear that his intention was to see that Malayalam films scale greater heights.

Adoor submitted to the state government a Rs 230 million proposal containing recommendations designed to restore the prominence of Malayalam cinema.

The proposals include the setting up of a full-fledged theatre exclusively for exhibition of 'good' films, construction of five small theatres with a seating capacity of 300 each, an archive, a film museum and a library.

"We need infrastructure and this would help the production of better Malayalam films in the future," said Adoor. "What the industry lacks here is facilities for the development and growth of good cinema," he said.

The award-winning director of films like Kathapurushan and Vidheyan added: "I am not obsessed with commercial films. I am quite clear that commercial films have a place in Kerala also and it is the market forces that determine that."

When asked what he meant by a 'good' Malayalam film, he replied that it was a film where no compromises and no adjustments were made to make it a commercial success.

"All box office hits need not be good films and all good films need not be box office hits," said Adoor.

High on his agenda is ensuring that the International Film Festival to be held here in March 2002 attracts some of the best cinema in the world.

"And one way to get the best is by offering good money for the winners. And for that, we have decided to rework the prize money. Now the best film will be given Rs 1 million," said Adoor.

Among the other initiatives that Adoor is expected to undertake through the Academy is an orientation for film professionals, film appreciation courses and workshops for students.

Adoor also wants to ensure that upcoming producers get good breaks as well as revive the hundreds of film societies in the state that are now dormant.

Indo-Asian News Service