CHENNAI: Filmmaker Abavanan urged Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to include the contribution of MGR as a subject to be taught by the MGR Government Film Institute from the next academic year, as the institute celebrated its 53rd anniversary on Thursday.
Abavanan recalled how Puratchi Thalaivar MGR used cinema as a weapon to bring about societal change. “Through cinema the Dravidian Movement took deep root in the state and MGR played a lead role in this,” he noted. “Therefore it would be apt to study him as a
subject in this prestigious institute named after him, and this would benefit students of the institute,” he said.
Abavanan called for a standing ovation for the development work sanctioned across the table by the CM for the institute and sought office space for the Alumni Association which would facilitate communication between current students and the alumni.
He sought the help of Information and Special Scheme Implemenation Minister K T Rajendra Balaji to form a major association for all the students from the institute as the student representative pointed out that the cost of mandatory membership at the Film Employees’ Federation of South India (FEFSI) was too high. The Minister said that the CM had been doing all she could to develop the institute and said more would come to the institute which bears MGR’s name. The addition of an Animation Diploma will take the number of courses offered by the institute to six.
Director Vasantha Balan suggested the students become voracious readers so as to become good filmmakers instead of watching alternative cinema, leading to imitations lacking in creativity. “Your films should make a mark in Tamil Cinema,” he said.
Cinematographer Vijay Milton advised his juniors to hit the field with passion, but to save their attitude until they took the lead in filmmaking.