It was launched in 2009 to teach every aspect of cinema to aspiring filmmakers. But with Balu Mahendra’s demise, his film school, ‘Cinema Pattarai’, too, has become a thing of the past.
When some of Mahendra’s students visited ‘Cinema Pattarai’ a few days ago, they were shocked to find the name board, designed in Mahendra’s handwriting, missing. Subsequent inquiries revealed the institute had folded up.
An avid student of cinema, Mahendra started the school in 2009 in Saligramam to teach cinema to students. It was inaugurated by his friend and music director Ilaiyaraja.
A native of Amirthakali near Mattakalappu in Sri Lanka, Mahendra came to India to study at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune. Though he studied cinematography and graduated with a gold medal in 1969, his interest encompassed every aspect of cinema.
Till his death in February this year, he spent the most part of his day at the institute.
Mukilan, Sabari and Vickiraja are some of the students who passed out of this institute and also worked for the film Thalaimuraigal , directed by Mahendra. He also played the lead role in the film.
“I feel sad that the school is not there. But I console myself thinking what would be the use of the institute when the teacher is not there to teach,” said a student of Mahendra.
