Filmmakers who remain sceptical of the cinematic potential of real life tales may take heart from the reception accorded to Ennu Ninte Moideen , a period romantic drama starring Prithviraj and Parvathy directed by debutant R.S. Vimal, both by the critics and audience alike. It presents a classic case of how a compelling real life incident can be adapted for the screen without compromising on the aesthetics of the medium. One of the factors attributed to the success of Ennu Ninte Moideen is its lyrical narration with brilliant visuals, say industry sources.
Incidentally, another film released recently serves a stark reminder that not all real life incidents can have the same impact in their cinematic form. Notwithstanding its limited release, the film TP 51 , based on the life of slain RMP leader T.P. Chandrasekharan, failed to create a ripple.
The drastically different fates of two films with themes spun around real life incidents reassert the fact that it all boils down to the director’s ability to narrate the tale in compliance with the grammar of cinema.
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Real life drama is nothing new to Mollywood as filmmakers have tried it on and off in the past.
Should politicians waste time watching films? And, even if they watch, should they be expressing their opinions and criticisms on the same publicly? These were some of the amusing, and at times absurd questions heard last week, after a young MLA belonging to the ruling party published a review of Ennu Ninte Moideen .
Even while praising the film, he pointed out a few glaring inconsistencies in the timelines in which it is set. But an MLA voicing his opinions about a film does not seem to have gone down well with many, who advised him to focus on ‘more important issues’.
M.P. Praveen
and S.R. Praveen