Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Encounter with a master filmmaker

INSPIRING YOUNGSTERS: Renowned filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan interacting with children at a vacation camp organised by the State Institute for Children's Literature in the capital city on Tuesday. Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

Why are films like Harry Potter not made in India? A curious 12-year-old who posed the question to renowned filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan was totally unprepared for the response it elicited from him.

"We all know Harry Potter. But how many of you have seen Kathakali or Koodiyattom?" Mr. Gopalakrishnan shot back.

The occasion was the inauguration of `Thaliru,' a vacation camp for children organised by the State Institute of Children's Literature in the city on Tuesday.

The Padma Vibushan winner who interacted with children as part of the inaugural session did some plain speaking when he learned that only one out of the 60 participants turned up for the camp had seen Koodiyattom. "A lack of awareness about our indigenous art forms is the greatest loss of the present-day generation," he said.

According to him, there are a lot of internationally renowned painters and artists in Kerala who are unheard of in the State. One of the participants wanted to know why children's film cannot be taken by children?

The response from the director was swift. "It will be the greatest injustice done to children." Making a film is a complex process, only a person who knows the psychology of children should make a film for them, he explained.

The filmmaker also had a dig at the parents for corrupting the tastes and preferences of children by imposing their choice of films and books on them. "Even if you don't watch films you should read good books," he exhorted the children.

The function was presided over by K.M. Mathew, director of the institute.

Sangeeth Kurian

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