We have a regular half an hour power-cut here in Kerala to overcome the shortage of electricity. However, on certain festive occassions this ritual is held back. As on Onam, Christmas, Id, etc. It was the Republic Day of India yesterday but sharp at the assigned time, the power went off.
WHAT DO YOU SENSE OUT OF IT?
ARE WE FORGETTING SOMETHING?
DID ANYONE NOTICE?
or
DO WE AT ALL CARE?
The power never went off when my uncle was watching a cricket match on television.
It was my very first experience of being in a film festival, be it International, National or any short term. I had planned to see a whole lot of films because they fascinate me that much and getting a package of world-wide film-culture was too much one could ask for. However, I got enrolled in a mentorship programme jointly organized by the ChalachitraAcademy and FIPRESCI. This, added to other repels kindly shortened my list of watch and at the end of it all I could sum up to have watched only twelve films.Big loss! I still regret it.
A film festival is a mighty, fruitful watch inside the theatres and a handsome spectacle in the surroundings. The IFFK truly defines it. And very fascinatingly, it is a marked place of reunion. I met my degree-mates in the IFFK venues and could see and make out many other groups sharing similar joy. There are so many famous and eminent personalities from within the film business and outside about whom one might have only heard or read or seen in a television. Getting an opportunity to meet and know them close is such wonderful an experience, when they might even be one's role-model.
Coming to this very symbol of true democracy- IFFK, I've learnt that greatness of a master lies in his simplicity and his realisation of humanity/sm. Most of the films I saw and the personalities I came across during this festival, site examples for my statement.
Working amidst viewing was tiresome and off-hearted. When you are watching for work, tension grabs you and viewing becomes critical, which I think is hazardous both for viewing and putting on record. The analysis of a film should be natural and should come of enjoyment. Only then can we respect a work. Watch and then analyse rather than watch to analyse. Therefore, I cannot recall a film I enjoyed freely. All the time I was doing postmortems on them and on my mind alike.
But at the same time, I wouldn't approve of having made a mistake by working. The mentorship programme (arranged for the first time with IFFK) was a tremendous experience of learning while working. It toned our perspectives about films and associate festivals and at the same time provided a platform to express, share, learn and unlearn.
