Adoor Gopalakrishnan needs no introduction to the astute film aficionados the world over. The book under review is the fourth from him, comprising mostly articles already published elsewhere and a few written to enrich this collection.
The agony, aspirations and tribulations of a penniless novice with no Godfather to support him, but imbued with firm aesthetic perceptions are unveiled in the first chapter. This hardly two-page piece was his maiden venture on graduation from the film institute.
The Myth, a film of 50-second duration shot with a borrowed camera and left-over film roll and with no dialogue, was among the 20 best films of the world selected for the Expo-67 at Montreal.
Citing examples, Adoor tells about the significance of the many facets of nature as characters in his films. The processes that a film goes through at his hands from the conception stage, and the rapport he established with cameraman Mankada Ravi Varma and producer Ravi are narrated.
The book provides a glimpse of the formative years of Malayalam cinema. The part related to Adoor's artistic life contains reminiscences his association with eminent persons like M.F. Hussain, Madhavikutty (Kamala Das), and actor Oduvil Unnikrishnan (Nizhalkoothu), composed in catchy lines.
CINEMA SAMSKAARAM: Adoor Gopalakrishnan : Mathrubhumi Books, Cherooty Road, Kozhikode-673056. Rs. 70.
