Nuance is something that one does not associate with Major Ravi’s films or public pronouncements. The loud patriotism, bordering on jingoism, that marks most of his films has got him a trusted fan following and an equal number of detractors.
Recently, the director landed in a soup following a few comments he made at the World Hindu Congress in New Delhi.
He had allegedly stated that he has become emboldened under the current dispensation at the Centre to do his kind of films and apparently also commented on the lack of patriotism of some people.
The online world did not take kindly to his remarks and attacked him, mostly with humorous takes on some of the statements. They also questioned him on his silence with regard to the violence from a particular side.
Now, barring his first film ‘Keerthichakra,’ none of his other films, despite being star-studded affairs, has managed to create any flutter at the cinema halls.
The repetition of the military milieu and similar storylines has perhaps contributed to the waning viewer interest.
He seemed to have got the message as he tried to veer away from that familiar setting in his previous film ‘Karmayodha.’ But, that was an even bigger disaster.
In his upcoming film ‘Picket 43,’ he goes back to the military setting with Prithviraj playing a soldier who is left behind in a lonely picket along the border.
One can only hope that the film will not repeat the film-maker’s past mistakes, like that disdain for human rights activists and a very simplistic portrayal of patriotism.
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Their fears of a ‘corporate’ takeover of the industry seem to have dissipated.
No major corporate investor could make inroads into Malayalam for quite sometime, going by the feedback from the producers.
“Except for a handful of films that some corporate houses distributed a few months ago, the big companies ruling the scene in general have not made any impact on Mollywood,” says M. Renjith, general secretary, Kerala Film Producers Association.
The industry is yet to subscribe to the business models employed by corporate movie houses.
The present system in Malayalam does not suit the interests of the big investors who prefer a vertical integration of various sectors including production, distribution, and exhibition, Mr. Renjith says.
The corporate houses are now content with co-production.
