KOCHI: The minimal but unprecedented success of art house movies ‘CR No 89’ and ‘Asthamayam Vare’ (Unto the Dusk) at the screens has prompted a number of art film makers to take the slot provided by Kerala State Film Development Corporation. More than half-a-dozen films, including one which had a one-week run, are in the queue to be screened at KSFDC theatres.
‘Alif, The First Letter of Knowledge’, directed by N K Muhammed Koya, was included in the Malayalam Cinema Today section in the 2014 IFFK and released in 35 theatres but could not continue the run after a week.
“As you know, the viewers for these genre of films would build after a week through word of mouth. So, it had to be discontinued by the end of the first week despite a proper release,” said Muhammed Koya.
“My appeal to then vice-chairman was also in vain. So I wanted to avail the facility to my film as it was made in the Chitranjali package,” he said, adding that KSFDC chairman Rajmohan Unnithan has agreed to give one screening each in three KSFDC thetares in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Kozhikode.
The 100-minute film starring Lena, Nedumudi Venu and Joy Mathew will, however, reach the theatres again on July 3.
‘Kanyaka Talkies’ directed by K R Manoj comes next.
The film which won the state film award for the Best Debut Director, Best Sound Recordist, Second Best Actress and selected to various film festivals including the Goa Film Festival and Indian Panorama is also slated to be released on July 10.
The movie with popular stars, which revolves around a B-grade movie theatre to be transformed into a worship house, will, therefore, have more screens.
“Ideally, the scheme should be two films each month in 10 to 15 theatres. Then it will make a space for the offbeat films,” said K R Manoj. ‘Oraalpokkam’ by Sanal Sasidharan, ‘Ain’ and ‘Zahir’, both by Sidharath Shiva, ‘Jalamsam’ by MP Sukumaran Nair, ‘Ottaal’ by Jayaraj and ‘Perariyathavar’ by Dr Biju are some of the other films in the list awaiting release. However, Dr Biju said the present scheme will benefit small budget films with no major stars. “In my experience, films with stars will get a decent two-week run in theatres if released as regular shows. Otherwise, the monetary benefit will be scanty,” he said.