THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When Farook Abdul Rahiman won the best debutant director award for the movie ‘Kaliyachan’ at the 2012 Kerala State Film awards, he felt it was the biggest encouragement a newcomer could get. However, more than two years have passed and the filmmaker is still running from pillar to post get the movie released.
Produced by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), ‘Kaliyachan’ was completed in September 2012. The film, with Manoj K Jayan in the lead role, unravels the underlying conflicts within the mind of a Kathakali artiste.
Besides the award for Rahiman, the film also bagged two other state awards - the second best actor award for Manoj K Jayan and the best background score for Bijibal. ‘Kaliyachan’ also earned the best background score award for Bijibal at the National Film Awards.
Rahiman heaved a sigh of relief when the film was included in the competition section at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) the next year. However, the film landed in a controversy as it was found to be re-censored in 2013 with the inclusion of a song, reportedly to gain entry into the festival.
‘’The song was included on the request of a distributor who felt it would help the film commercially,’’ Rahiman told ‘Express’. Ever since its first screening at IFFK, Rahiman has been in constant touch with NFDC to get the film released but the response, he says, was lukewarm.
‘’When I knew that NFDC was not keen in getting the film released, I approached a few private distributors who were willing to release it in theatres. However, a number of e-mails and phone calls to NFDC have not elicited any positive response,’’ he said. “The release of the film, along with other films of NFDC, is held up for want of funds. We hope to release the film at the earliest next year,’’ Nina Lath Gupta, Managing Director of NFDC, told ‘Express’ in an e-mailed response.
According to Rahiman, a budget of Rs 2 crore was sanctioned for the movie but it was completed with Rs 1.80 crore. ‘’Perhaps I am the only director who has finished a film for NFDC well below the sanctioned budget,’’ he said.
“NFDC can easily coordinate with the government and release the film in at least the nine theatres under the KSFDC. This will at least ensure that a movie, gets an opportunity to be screened before the public,’’ Rahiman said.