THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Is International Film Festival of Kerala becoming a synonym for controversies? As the selection process for the 22nd edition of the festival is almost complete, State Chalachitra Academy is facing criticism for excluding two Malayalam films from the competition category.Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, director of Sexy Durga, has threatened to stage a sit-in in front of the festival venue in protest against the academy’s decision to exhibit the film in the “Malayalam Cinema Today”. Anil Thomas, director of Minnaminungu, has alleged a conspiracy in the academy to avoid good Malayalam movies.
Several independent film directors have come out in support of the films, which have already earned repute as good films. Sexy Durga is the winner of three international awards, including the Hivos Tiger Award at the Rotterdam Film Festival.Minnaminungu brought the award for best actress to Kerala after a gap of 14 years. Criticisers allege the exclusion of Minnaminungu was a classic example for the disregard the academy gives to Malayalam films despite their credentials.According to Sanal, it was a deliberate insult at him. “It did not appear like a merit-based decision but as per the interest of some individuals,” he says.
Academy chairman Kamal has reportedly told Sanal he will explore the possibility of considering the film in the “World Cinema” category. “If not the competition category, next best option is World Cinema. But he has not given an assurance in this regard,” Sanal said.Sanal says he stands by his earlier announcement to stage a sit-in in front of the festival venue if the organisation did not change its mind. “This is not a fight for my film. In fact, my film represents several independent cinemas which are given a cold shoulder by the academy,” he said.
Anil Thomas, director of Minnaminungu, alleges the exclusion of his film from the festival was the handiwork of a caucus headed by festival director Bina Paul. “Academy officers in an informal communciation told me the decision to exclude my film was made by the selection jury and they did not have any role in it. In the first place, this argument is a lie if past instances are any proof. Also, the academy bylaw gives its office-bearers the powers to run the festival suitably,” he said.
Anil also called for a probe by competent persons into the functioning of the academy and festival during the past 15 years. “I’m sure the probe will unearth fraudulent practices in the selection of films,” he said.
Anil said his next move is to meet Cultural Affairs Minister K Balan. “The minister is on a foreign tour and will be back on October 9. I will take up the issue with him,” he said. “The said caucus did not have any role in two editions of the festival. Quite naturally, the quality of films were much higher than other editions,” he said.
‘Academy has no role in selection of films’
T’Puram: Selection of films is the prerogative of the jury and the Chalachitra Academy does not have any role in it, said Bina Paul, the academy’s vice-chairperson and artistic director of the International Film Festival of Kerala. “I can understand the pain of filmmakers who don’t get a chance to participate or cannot get their films included in a particular category,” she said. “But the allegations against the academy are baseless as it doesn’t have any role in the selection procedure. The academy informs about the rules and regulations at the time of submission of entry. Will any sensible person believe I can influence a panel headed by Ramachandra Babu?” Responding to Anil Thomas’ allegation of a caucus, she said: “It is not for me to answer. Persons who suspect such a malpractice can clear their doubts with the current jury members and those in the past years.” The jury for selecting Malayalam films for the current edition of the festival was headed by veteran cameraman Ramachandra Babu and comprised Chelavoor Venu, M G Sasi, Judajith Sarcar and Veena Hariharan. They selected two films for the competition section - Randuper directed by Premshankar and Eden directed by Sanju Surendran.