K.R. Manoj was a young college student in 1994, looking for ‘other’ cinema, when he landed at a 16-day long film festival organised by Soorya to commemorate 100 years of cinema.
“It was the first such experience, of watching cinema from across the world, from dawn to dusk over two weeks,” says Manoj, whose critically acclaimed film ‘Kanyaka Talkies’ is currently running in the theatres.
Later, he formed the ‘Scarface’ film society and was involved in organising some major film festivals like SIGNS. Like Manoj, several among the young crop of independent film-makers, are products of the film society movement.
“My experiences with film societies started with FILCA. I wouldn’t have known about the existence of such cinema without FILCA and I probably would not have made my film too,” says Sajin Baabu, who made ‘Unto the Dusk’.
Sudevan, who won accolades for ‘Cr. No. 89’ also started his experiments in film-making through a grass-root level movement in his village, Peringode. It is this group that continues to be his pillar of strength through all his short films and also his maiden feature film.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, who made ‘Oraalpokkam’, is yet another product of the movement. Before theatres opened the doors to them, these film-makers were able to hold local screenings across the State and draw audiences, thanks to the presence of film societies.
