KOCHI: Thirty-eight years after it made a spectacular debut, ‘Swapnadanam’ was screened to a full house at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2014, with its creator, K G George watching from the front row.
Packaged as the inaugural film in a set of debut films by master filmmakers, ‘Swapnadanam’, was watched by an audience of Indian and foreign film enthusiasts, most of whom were probably much younger than the movie itself. George shared some old film experiences before he joined the audience for the viewing. “I was happy to see the film with this generation of viewers. It is good to see that ‘Swapnadanam’ retains its freshness and attracts enthusiastic audience even today,” he said. Though the film maker, who suffers from age-related ailments was expected to take his leave after the inaugural function, he ended up staying for the full length of the screening.
The black and white film made in 1976, featured Rani Chandra, Dr Mohandas, Soman, P K Venukuttan Nair and Mallika. It went on to win the state award for best film and the National award for best Malayalam feature.
George had lent his voice to the film’s protagonist, a doctor who suffers a nervous breakdown, said director K B Venu, who accompanied the veteran.
“It was a rare chance for the viewers to watch a film with the filmmaker and even the foreign crowd stayed till the end. This shows that the film goes beyond language. The 100-day film festival at the biennale is a real celebration of cinema,” said programme manager Bandhu Prasad. The package is curated by noted film critic C S Venkiteswaran.