Latest news with #RIFFK
The Hindu
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Chronicling the paddy man's life across five years
What compelled filmmaker M.K. Ramadas to document the life of Cheruvayal Raman was his desire to bring the story of the tribal farmer from Wayanad, who lives for nature, to the common person on screen. His 42-minute documentary Nekal - Chronicle of the Paddy Man, which portrays the septuagenarian agriculturalist and Padma Shri recipient, earned a special mention in the non-feature category at the 71st National Film Awards for 2023, announced last week. Incidentally, Mr. Ramadas began filming in 2018, well before Mr. Raman received the nation's fourth-highest civilian award. Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing Regional International Film Festival of Kerala (RIFFK) in Kozhikode on Saturday (August 9), Mr. Ramadas said that the project sprouted from his connection to the agricultural heritage of Wayanad. 'Having been born in Wayanad, harvests and seeds have been a constant throughout my life,' he told The Hindu. During his childhood, he and his father would acquire seeds from the Kuruma community, an experience that fundamentally shaped his appreciation of farming traditions. For many years, Mr. Raman has been safeguarding 55 indigenous rice varieties, as well as diverse species of trees, herbs, and spices across his three-acre plot. 'I had preserved 60 varieties until 2021, but advancing age and health complications compelled me to reduce seed collection,' he acknowledged following his 2023 Padma Shri announcement. Determined to capture the essence of Mr. Raman's life and philosophy, Mr. Ramadas shadowed the farmer's endeavours for five years, documenting the natural rhythms of agricultural life — sowing, cultivating, and harvesting. 'My intention was simply to document his life without any intrusions,' he said. His journalistic background, Mr. Ramadas said, proved instrumental in establishing connections with dedicated cinematographers, producers, and others who recognised the project's significance and offered their support. 'Nekal also has a political message, the political statement of a farmer to live in a democracy,' Mr. Ramadas said. Both Mr. Ramadas and Mr. Raman believe seeds are not private property but a gift of nature. 'We are only here to take care of them. Seeds pass from one generation to another - this has always been nature's order,' Mr. Ramadas signed off.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
RIFFK strikes a chord with young cinephiles
Film festivals are witnessing a steady rise in interest among youngsters, with the Regional International Film Festival of Kerala (RIFFK) emerging as a strong example. At this year's edition, the notable presence of student cinephiles reflected a growing enthusiasm for art films and festival culture. Naveena Vijayan, regional coordinator of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, credits the inclusion of cinema in academic syllabi as a key factor behind this shift. She also points to Touring Talkies, an outreach initiative by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy (KSCA), as instrumental in sparking curiosity among young audiences. 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.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Saeed Mirza lauds Kerala for sustaining IFFK for 30 years
Saeed Akhtar Mirza, chairman of the K.R. Narayanan Institute of Visual Sciences and Arts, has come down heavily on the movie The Kerala Story, which won the national film awards for best direction and cinematography for 2025. Inaugurating the Regional International Film Festival of Kerala (RIFFK) in Kozhikode on Friday (August 8), the three-time national award-winning filmmaker of Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho!, Salim Langde pe Mat Ro, and Naseem said that movies like The Kerala Story that spread exaggerated half-truths were worse than lies and weapons in the hands of fascists. Appreciating the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) for bringing back sanity, rationality, and poetry to cinema, Mr. Mirza noted that Kerala had internalised cinema. 'This is the only State in the country that has sustained a film festival with such deep public participation for 30 years,' he said, noting that the IFFK had its beginning in Kozhikode in 1994. He appreciated the role played by film societies in the State in nurturing cinema culture and mentioned doyens such as Chelavoor Venu, who popularised quality cinema. He also invited filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan back to his institute, from where the latter had resigned as chairman a few years ago. Festival director and Kerala State Chalachitra Academy Chairman Premkumar, in his address, supported Adoor's recent statement that filmmakers, irrespective of gender or community background, need proper training in the craft of cinema. He also said that the 'freedom of expression' was not the freedom to spread lies, and that every artist had a responsibility to society. Mayor Beena Philip presided over the event. MLA Thottathil Raveendran was the guest of honour. Actors Sudheesh and Kukku Parameshwaran, besides officials of the Academy were present. Meenakshi Jayan, who bagged the best actress title at the Shanghai International Film Festival, and Gopikrishnan Varma, who played a pivotal role in the Hindi movie Sitare Zameen Par, were honoured on the occasion. The Seed of the Sacred Fig by Iranian filmmaker Mohammed Rasoolof was the inaugural film of the four-day festival. It had bagged special jury recognition at the Cannes Film Festival. The film is the story of a mother and two daughters against the backdrop of the mandatory hijab rule in Iran. The director now lives in exile in Germany after the Islamic Republic of Iran sentenced him to eight years of imprisonment and whippings as punishment for making this movie. The RIFFK features 58 films in nine different categories from different parts of the world. As many as 15 films are being screened in three theatres in the city on the second day of the festival.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Special photo exhibition at RIFFK showcases MT's cinematic journey
As part of the Regional International Film Festival of Kerala (RIFFK), a special photo exhibition titled 'Kaalam: Maayachithrangal' was inaugurated on Thursday (August 7, 2025) at Kairali Theatre, Kozhikode, in honour of late legendary writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair. Organised by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, the exhibition has been curated by film historian and photographer R. Gopalakrishnan and showcases over 100 rare photographs from M.T.'s illustrious cinematic journey. The exhibition was inaugurated by M.T.'s wife Kalamandalam Saraswathi and daughter Aswathi V. Nair. C. Ajoy, Secretary, Kerala State Chalachitra Academy and Executive Director of RIFFK, and Sunil Ashokapuram, Chairperson of the Exhibition Committee, also spoke. Noted critic M.M. Basheer, former Head of the Malayalam Department at the University of Calicut, shared fond memories of his close friendship with M.T. M.T.'s daughter also shared a few heartfelt words about her father. A.K. Abdul Hakeem, author and convenor of the Exhibition Committee, was present.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
More film festivals likely in Kozhikode in coming years
The Kerala State Chalachithra Academy is proactively considering the demand to organise more international film festivals in Kozhikode, its secretary C. Ajoy has said. Addressing the media ahead of the four-day Regional International Film Festival of Kerala (RIFFK) to be held in the city from Friday (August 8, 2025), Mr. Ajoy pointed out that Kozhikode has had a symbiotic link with the festival. 'The first IFFK was held here in 1996. Later, Thiruvananthapuram was chosen as its permanent venue. There are around 15 screens in the capital where nearly 15,000 people converge every year for the annual event. However, efforts will be made to bring more such festivals to the city, considering the large number of movie enthusiasts here,' Mr. Ajoy added. Meanwhile, Kozhikode Mayor Beena Philip, who was also on the dais, said that the Tagore Centenary Hall, which had been demolished to make way for a new structure, would have at least four screens once the work is completed in two years. The city already has the State-owned Kairali and Sree movie halls. Steps would also be taken to arrange more screening venues with the support of private theatre owners. 'Thus, in another two years, the city may have at least 25 screens where films can be exhibited. We shall host bigger events then,' Ms. Philip added. As many as 58 films screened at the last IFFK held in Thiruvananthapuram will be shown here from Friday at Kairali, Sree and Coronation movie halls. Saeed Akhtar Mirza, Chairperson, K.R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts, Kottayam, will inaugurate the event in the morning at Kairali Theatre. The Seed of the Sacred Fig, directed by Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, will be the opening film. Meenakshi Jayan, who recently won the Best Actress award at the Shanghai International Film Festival, actor Gopikrishnan Varma, known for his role as Guddu in the Aamir Khan-starrer Sitaare Zameen Par, and actor Sudheesh will be present, among others. Open forums, to be held over the following three days, will see participation from directors and film crew, according to the organisers.
