THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Extensive reading is essential for a good film critic, said noted film critic Pradip Biswas. “A critic should first learn about cinema. In European countries, a critic watches a film three or four times to do a review,” he said.Biswas was speaking at the IFFK open forum on ‘Film Review - In Print and Visual Media’ held on Monday.
Young critic Nizam Asaf said the changes in cinema have reflected in film reviewing as well. Mobile and laptop viewing makes cinema a personal experience, while film festivals are the opposite.
Young critic Harinarayanan opined the film review is a continuation of literary criticism.
He urged the community not to restrict themselves to negative comments.
A commemoration function in honour of critic V C Haris was held ahead of the open forum. B Unnikrishnan delivered the Haris memorial lecture. A book on Haris edited by Jayakumar was released by Unnikrishnan.
In his address, Unnikrishnan said Haris had made the classroom a venue for free and democratic discussions.Renowned critic V K Joseph was honoured on the day. Chalachitra Academy chairman Kamal and director Kunju Muhammed draped a ‘ponnada’ on him.