The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : A tribute to sound of silence

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 26, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

A tribute to sound of silence

Sudhish Kamath

Sign language broke all barriers in communication Ability Foundation played host to a film festival to celebrate International Deaf Awareness Week.

LIVE BACKGROUND SCORE: An ensemble of musicians play live as a silent movie `Light of Asia' plays at Subham theatre in Chennai on Saturday. — Photo: M. Vedhan

CHENNAI: : Cinema returned to its roots at Sathyam Cinemas on Saturday when Ability Foundation played host to `Sound of Silence,' a film festival to celebrate International Deaf Awareness Week. And, of course, revive interest in silent films. You could sense the excitement in the air as scores of people with hearing and speech disabilities laughed heartily at Chaplin and discussed `Pushpak' outside the hall during the breaks as sign language broke all barriers in communication.

In the evening, music director Sriram Parasuraman led an ensemble of musicians to perform a live background score for the 1924 black and white film `Light of Asia,' based on the story of Buddha. "We believe this is how it used to be done in those days," Jayshree Raveendran, Executive Director of Ability Foundation said. "Since the movies were silent, a live band would accompany the film on screen." As Revathy said, "There is no take two. There's just one take to get it right."

"We are counting on the lenient sensibilities of appreciation," the music director said before the movie admitting that it was the first time that they were going to perform as the movie played. "It is a dress rehearsal at best. It is very raw and unpolished," he added. The musicians did not disappoint and no one would have guessed that they had been introduced to the film only a week before the screening.

Earlier, director Hariharan gave the audience trivia on the making of `Light of Asia' and said the film had to be seen for its "sheer spectacular value"

Even after the film ended, the audience comprising a large number of the disabled were only too willing to watch yet another film, the French black and white comedy `Monsieur Hulot's Holiday.' After all, it's not everyday an opportunity like this presents itself. And, that too, free.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu