RIFFK strikes a chord with young cinephiles
While the number of student delegates is still comparatively small, Ms. Vijayan says the turnout is promising. Among them was a group of PhD scholars from Calicut University, including Keerti, who has been attending film festivals since 2019. 'It's a must-experience,' she says, adding that the atmosphere, the crowd, and the chance to connect with like-minded film lovers keep her coming back year after year.
For Harishankar M.P., the unique access to films that are otherwise unavailable is one of the festival's biggest draws. 'It was curiosity that brought me to my first IFFK as a student,' he recalls. 'Once I realised how valuable it was, I kept returning.'
Godwin Francis finds RIFFK 'more coordinated' than its Thiruvananthapuram counterpart, praising its technical execution. He notes that attendees generally fall into two categories: the committed film enthusiasts and those drawn in for social media content.
Filmmaker Sharan Venugopal observes that young people in Kerala are increasingly drawn to cinema, thanks in part to the openness and diversity of the Malayalam film industry. The presence of cinema in the curriculum plays a role, he adds, but so does the festival's social appeal. 'Spots like these have become Instagrammable, and that makes youngsters flock to the venue,' he says.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Indian Express
Divya Dutta recalls barging into Sonu Nigam's room, crying during moments of emotional vulnerability: ‘One doesn't forget such things'
Are celebrity friendships truly real? Or are they all simply faking their attachment to or affection for each other to make headlines or for personal gain? From the expansive world of music to Hollywood, Bollywood and beyond, fans and observers have long had this doubt. Although it's impossible to provide a blanket answer to this question — and yes, publicity stunts are quite common — there certainly have also been friendships that transcend the boundaries of the flashy world. Although they are probably far and few, they do exist, and renowned actor Divya Dutta's recent social media post for her 'bestie', legendary playback singer Sonu Nigam, stands as a testament to this. Sharing on Instagram a video comprising pictures of them over the years, Divya, on the occasion of the singer's birthday on July 30, had opened up about how their bond has 'stood the test of time'. Recalling Sonu's warm gestures, including being there for her whenever she's in an emotionally vulnerable state, she described him as her 'constant', underscoring their deep camaraderie. In an exclusive interview with SCREEN, Divya Dutta elaborated on their relationship and how her friends, in general, keep her anchored. 'I began with him. I still remember those beautiful times when I would barge into his room while he was doing his makeup for shows, saying, 'You continue with your work; I'm going to sit here and cry.' He would be like, 'Okay, sit and cry.' One doesn't forget such things,' she recalled. Sharing how he's been there for her and has always had her back, Divya said, 'I now love speaking on stage, but there was a time when it used to make me very nervous. He taught me how to interact with the audience.' She continued, 'In life, I think you're all about friends. They keep you sailing, especially when you're working (in such a field) and are away from your families for long periods. Even otherwise, it's your friends who keep you aligned with yourself, grounded, make fun of you, and tell you who you are. Particularly when you enter this make-believe world, chances are that you could get swayed by all the love and attention. It's your friends who keep you anchored by making you realise what you actually are, saying, 'Listen, you're this. So, shut up and sit down.' That's very important.' Renowned for her work in Bollywood and Punjabi cinema, Divya Dutta recently made her Telugu debut in a key role in Mayasabha, the political drama streaming series created by Deva Katta. Anandu Suresh is a Deputy Copy Editor at Indian Express Online. He specialises in Malayalam cinema, but doesn't limit himself to it and explores various aspects of the art form. He also pens a column titled Cinema Anatomy, where he delves extensively into the diverse layers and dimensions of cinema, aiming to uncover deeper meanings and foster continuous discourse. Anandu previously worked with The New Indian Express' news desk in Hyderabad, Telangana. You can follow him on Twitter @anandu_suresh_ and write (or send movie recommendations) to him at ... Read More
NDTV
7 hours ago
- NDTV
John Abraham's Shout Out To Mammootty For Playing A "Gay Politician": "Malayalam Film Industry Is Brave"
New Delhi: Bollywood actor and producer John Abraham has expressed his deep admiration for Malayalam cinema and its leading stars. In an Idea Exchange session with The Indian Express, John shared his interest in producing films inspired by the Malayalam film industry and praised veteran actors Mammootty and Mohanlal. What's Happening Speaking about the kind of cinema he wants to back, John said, "That industry is very brave. So, I think as of today, the best films in the country come from the Malayalam film industry. If you ask who my favourite actor is, I would say Mohanlal by light years. I love Meryl Streep also." He also commended Mammootty for taking on a bold role in Kaathal - The Core. "You look at Mammootty playing a politician and you find out in the film that he is gay. I mean, it's brave for that man to do a film like that," John said, calling himself a huge fan of the actor. Background John revealed that he has set up a writer's room in Kerala with the aim of developing content rooted in Malayalam cinema. "I thought maybe I could borrow from some of their ideas. So, what I did was set up a writer's room in Kerala. Let's generate ideas out of there and see films that could be made nationally or only in Malayalam. I want to produce more Malayalam films because it's the right time, they are fantastic. But, I also want to produce other films," he said. On the work front, John Abraham was last seen in the political thriller The Diplomat. His next film, Tehran, will release directly on ZEE5 on August 14.
India.com
7 hours ago
- India.com
Top actress making her comeback after 28 years in a supernatural thriller, film name is..., she is...
In cinema, it's an old, unkind truth, actresses often face shorter careers than their male counterparts. Family responsibilities, changing audience preferences, or age-based bias frequently cut their journey short. Filmmakers stop offering roles, and the limelight moves on. Yet, now and then, a few performers break the pattern. Neena Gupta proved it. Now, another name from the 80s and 90s is defying time and returning to the screen after nearly three decades. Who is making this surprising comeback? Her name is Disco Shanti Srihari, a celebrated star of the 80s and 90s, who hasn't appeared in films since 1997. Known for her dynamic screen presence, she is set to return in director Inasi Pandiyan's supernatural thriller Bullet. This film also stars popular actor Raghava Lawrence and his brother Elvin in the lead roles. In Bullet, Shanti takes on the intriguing role of a fortune teller, a character who seems to know more than anyone else about the dark events to come. Watch teaser What's in the teaser that has everyone talking? The teaser for Bullet was unveiled on Friday by actor Vishal on social media. It begins with Disco Shanti delivering a cryptic line, 'Every tragedy that occurs in our lives must have happened somewhere in the world at some point in time.' From there, the tone shifts. The heroine tells the hero, 'Since childhood, I never got what I wanted. I don't want to lose you, too.' Then begins a wave of eerie incidents that force the protagonist and his friends to flee a mysterious location. The visuals and pacing hint at a gripping supernatural thriller packed with mystery and tension. How big is this film's release? Director Inasi Pandiyan shared his vision, saying, 'It is a completely supernatural action thriller. The teaser has done well in taking it to the audience. I wanted to make this story my first film as a director, but due to certain reasons, it couldn't happen. So, I made it my second.' Bullet is being produced as a multilingual venture, releasing simultaneously in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi, widening its reach across India. The team behind the scenes The film's cinematography is handled by Aravind Singh, known for Demonte Colony and Diary. Editing is by Vadivel Vimalraj, whose work has been praised for precision and flow. With the combination of an intriguing plot, a comeback star, and a wide release, Bullet is positioning itself as one of the most anticipated thrillers of the year. This isn't just a film, it's a statement that even after 28 years away, a star can still command attention, deliver impact, and return on her terms.
