Latest news with #KeralaStateChalachitraAcademy
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
International Environmental Film Festival begins in Irinjalakuda
'Humanity has turned into a society that exploits nature every passing moment,' said actor and Kerala State Chalachitra Academy chairperson Premkumar. He was speaking after inaugurating the second edition of RITHU, an International Environmental Film Festival at St. Joseph's College, Irinjalakuda, on Friday. Highlighting the irreversible ecological damage caused by modern lifestyles, he stressed that humans now live in direct contradiction to the rhythm of nature. 'We have lost all sense of seasonal balance. Every art form has the power to spark transformation in the human mind. Cinema is not just entertainment, its true mission is fulfilled when it becomes a tool for social reform,' he said, The inauguration ceremony was presided over by C. Blessy, Principal of the college and chairperson of the festival. The festival opened with Kaad, Kaadar, Onkal, a striking documentary by Chennai-based filmmaker Aravind Mohanraj, exploring the deep-rooted connection between the Kadar tribal community of Athirappilly and hornbills. Over two days, the festival will screen 13 thought-provoking films in multiple languages, each addressing diverse dimensions of environmental crises and ecological resilience. The event is being jointly organised by Thrissur Chalachitra Kendram, Irinjalakuda Film Society, and the Induchoodan Foundation. Thrissur Chalachitra Kendram chairperson Cherian Joseph, Irinjalakuda Film Society patron P.K. Bharathan, festival director Lity Chacko, core committee member Nayana M.M., and student representative Gouri Nandakumar participated in the inaugural session.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Culture Minister launches logo for Kerala film policy conclave
The proposed policy for the Malayalam film industry, to be presented at the Kerala film policy conclave in August, will address all the long-time demands and pertinent issues, including women's safety, implementation of labour laws and the formal recognition as an industry, Minister for Cultural Affairs Saji Cherian has said. Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday to announce the conclave and launch its logo, he said that the film policy will be formulated based on the discussions at the conclave. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the two-day conclave at a function to be held at the Sankaranarayanan Thampi Hall inside the Legislative Assembly complex in Thiruvananthapuram on August 2. The conclave, which will comprehensively discuss various aspects of cinema, will be attended by representatives of the 17 States that have formulated the film policy, representatives of the National Film Development Corporation, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism, personalities from the Indian film industry as well as international experts, various film organisations and experts in the fields of labour and law. Mr. Cherian said that comprehensive discussions will be held on various issues related to the film sector. The conclave will have nine sessions over two days. After the inaugural session on the first day, five sessions will be conducted. All these sessions will be held simultaneously at five different venues. There will be a plenary session in the afternoon in which moderators from each discussion will present reports based on their discussions. This will be followed by an open forum at 4.30 p.m., in which representatives can raise questions related to the reports. Ideas emerging from the discussions will be codified and incorporated into the film policy. Wide-ranging process 'Such a wide-ranging, democratic process to formulate a policy for a film industry is unprecedented. The policy will be a comprehensive one in which every department of cinema will be considered and the concerns of every person will be addressed,' said Mr. Cherian. Cultural Affairs department Additional Chief Secretary Rajan N. Khobragade, Cultural Affairs department Director Divya S. Iyer, Kerala State Chalachitra Academy chairperson Premkumar, Kerala State Cultural Activists Welfare Fund Board chairperson K. Madhupal, Kerala State Film Development Corporation managing director P.S. Priyadarshan and Kerala State Chalachitra Academy secretary C. Ajoy were present.
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
17th edition of International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala from August 22 to 27
The 17th edition of the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), organised by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, will be held in the capital from August 22 to 27 this year. Long documentaries, short documentaries, fiction shorts, animation films and campus films will be screened at the festival.
The Hindu
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Modernised Kairali-Sree Theatres opened in Thrissur
Minister for Culture Saji Cherian inaugurated the renovated Kairali-Sree theatres in Thrissur on Tuesday. Speaking at the function, the Minister said that Kerala will continue to resist attacks on creative freedom and will emerge as a progressive model in the cultural domain. Modern theatres are essential to deliver films to audiences in the best possible way, he said. . He said that a Cinema Conclave will be held in Thiruvananthapuram on August 2 and 3 and a Cultural Congress in Kochi from December 18 to 20, which will promote peace and harmony and provide platforms for dialogue on artistic freedom. 'At a time when even the naming of films is being questioned, the need for cultural unity is more urgent than ever,' he said. 'More modern theatres are under construction in Kayamkulam, Vaikom, Alappuzha (Alagappanagar), and Payyannur. By 2030, the aim is to expand to 50 screens across the State. The State is also investing in inclusion, with annual grants of ₹1.5 crore each for two SC/ST directors and two women directors to produce films. A new award has been instituted for transgender individuals who excel in the field of cinema, and women are being trained for technical roles through the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy,' the Minister said. Mr. Cherian also announced that a new cinema theatre project will soon begin in Ollur. He also highlighted that ₹150-crore worth of modernisation is under way at the Chithranjali Studio, with the first phase involving ₹70 crore in new infrastructure, positioning it as a premier film production hub in Kerala. Revenue Minister K. Rajan, who presided over the event, stressed the need to safeguard physical and mental well-being in an increasingly polarised environment. He warned against attempts to politicise even exercise and education, referencing to controversies around including practices like Zumba in school curricula. The Kairali and Sree theatres, originally opened in 1999 under the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC), have undergone a major upgrade at a cost of ₹16 crore. The revamped facilities now feature state-of-the-art technology including RGB 4K laser projection, Hugo silver screens, Dolby Atmos 36-channel audio, pushback and platinum sofa seating, and air-conditioned baby feeding rooms. Kairali now seats 519 (including 33 platinum sofa seats) and Sree accommodates 327 (with 36 sofa seats), allowing more than 800 viewers at once. The complex also includes lifts, cafeteria, waiting area, guest rooms, accessible restrooms, and ample vehicle parking, designed to be disabled-friendly. Minister Cheriyan praised filmmaker Shaji N. Karun for his vision that guided the redesign and reaffirmed the government's commitment to the cinema sector. The event also paid tribute to the late Shaji N. Karun, former Chalachitra Academy chairman, with a commemorative address by filmmaker and KSFDC Board member M.A. Nishad. Actor T.G. Ravi was honoured for completing 50 years in cinema. Other dignitaries attended the event included KSFDC MD P.S. Priyadarsan, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Chairperson Mattannur Sankarankutty, Lalithakala Akademi Chairman Murali Cheeroth, and Thrissur Corporation officials.
The Hindu
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Television Lifetime Achievement Award for K. Kunhikrishnan
K. Kunhikrishnan has been chosen for the Television Lifetime Achievement Award instituted by the State government for contributions to Malayalam television. Minister for Cultural Affairs Saji Cherian announced the award here on Friday. The award carries a cash prize of ₹2 lakh, citation, and a statuette. A jury headed by Baiju Chandran, the award recipient of the previous year, and consisting of television programme/documentary directors Diana Silvester, Mohankumar Kallayil and Kerala State Chalachitra Academy secretary C. Ajoy as the member secretary. The jury commented that Mr. Kunhikrishnan played a key role in laying the foundation for Malayalam television broadcasting. He contributed to the technical and creative growth of the medium of television for three decades from 1977 to 2005. Played crucial role Mr. Kunhikrishnan, who joined Doordarshan, Calcutta, as an assistant director in 1977, was in charge of Malayalam broadcasting from Madras while he was the deputy director of Doordarshan, Madras. As the first director of Doordarshan, Thiruvananthapuram, in 1984, he played a crucial role in shaping a generation of talents in the field of visual media. He led the television broadcasting that started in Kerala on January 1, 1985. In 1987, he played a leading role in transforming the Thiruvananthapuram Doordarshan studio into the largest studio in India by increasing its technical facilities. In the early 1990s, he took on the challenge posed by the proliferation of private channels and spearheaded the work to popularise Doordarshan. He retired in 2005 after becoming the first Malayali to become the Additional Director General of Doordarshan at the national level. The jury assessed that he has also made commendable contributions to the academic positioning of the television medium through his writings such as the books Televisionum Samoohavum, Television: Veekshanam Vishakalam, and the article Pralayakaalathe Malayalam Television, which won the 2018 Kerala State Television Award.
