Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Carving a niche of his own

What makes Adoor Gopalakrishnan different from other filmmakers in the country? Adoor has dedicated his life to cinema and perhaps, it is this commitment which makes him an epitome of creativity in the film world, says M.F. Thomas in his book, `Adoorinte Chalachitra Yathrakal,' an anthology of his essays on the films and career of Adoor. The book sheds light on the creative adventures of the filmmaker who has won many national and international accolades and a place of pride for Malayalam in international cinema.

As a pioneer of the film society movement, when Adoor took the lead in forming the Chitralekha Film Society in 1965, even the avid cinema buffs were doubtful about the importance of educating them to watch and enjoy cinema. Being ignorant of the intricacies of filmmaking, they never felt that the calling demanded academic training and hence awareness to enjoy films was totally uncalled for. But Adoor and a group of cineastes took such challenges in their stride, continued the task of popularising serious cinema with perseverance and also created a new breed of educated viewers who understood the intrinsic value of genuine creations. Chitralekha was a trendsetter and in due course the State witnessed a proliferation of film societies and a group of dedicated members with a longing to see and enjoy good films.

Those who have a serious approach to life can never ignore the films of Adoor, which are honest depictions of life. There are not many filmmakers who analyse human life meticulously from such close quarters. Adoor studies the life, surroundings, tradition and even the minute aspects of life in Kerala. Unless one decides to defy life, he cannot challenge the films of Adoor, says Thomas.

Instead of faithfully etching the career graph of his favourite director, Thomas solemnly tries to interpret each film starting from `Swayamvaram' to `Nizhalkuthu' with the seriousness they deserve. `Swayamvaram' was a revelation that the medium can be used meaningfully for a realistic portrayal of life. The crisp and meaningful dialogue, characters, even the most innocuous ones and the shots were a novel experience to the audience who were lured by the glamour and cacophony of cinema, says Thomas. Other than the chemistry of his filmmaking, Adoor's decision to use the talent of established popular actors of mainstream cinema in `Anantharam' also finds mention in the book. While speaking about the digital revolution that is set to storm cinema, Adoor reminds that cinema is something one should experience like life, and perhaps that is what makes him unique.

N.J. Nair

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