Panchayat Turns Film Producer

Setting up an example to civic bodies, a panchayat has ventured into film making for the first time in the state.
Panchayat Turns Film Producer

Setting up an example to civic bodies, a panchayat has ventured into film making for the first time in the state. Mathur panchayat in Palakkad has produced Pookkal Paranjathu (what the flowers said), a two-hour-long feature film, directed by Nandajan, a theatre artist.

Students of nine government-run and aided schools in the panchayat were given training in acting at a workshop held prior to shoot of the film. “It was in 2012 that a people’s gathering, ‘Sargotsavam’ was formed. It worked out to be a platform for children who have a passion for writing and brought out a book titled Pookkal paranjathu.

The authorities saw to it that the book reached all the houses in the panchayat free of cost. Later, came the idea of producing a feature film. “The plan funds of two years amounting to `4 lakh was used for the film,” Mathur panchayat president A  Sumathi said.

“It is truly a people’s film. The scenic beauty of the panchayat has been absorbed in it. Three stories are woven into the film. One of the characters is seen throughout the film,” Nandajan says.

“Though the film features 60-odd children, the Censor Board has not labelled it as a children’s film. It is a film not only of children, but of parents, teachers and the locals.” he  says.

He said that the locals were very cooperative during the shooting. Food, accommodation and transportation facilities were chipped in by them.

The theme of the film is related to the search for answers as to why children are moving away from parents, general convener P V Shashikumar said.  

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The New Indian Express
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