The Hindu : Kerala News : A village is busy ‘selling dreams’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 01, 2007
ePaper

Kerala

Kerala

A village is busy ‘selling dreams’

POLITICAL SATIRE: On the sets of ‘Vilkanundu Socialist Swapnangal’

Pottasseri, the remote village near Mukkom in Kozhikode is the scene of hectic activity. This time, it is for reasons other than the agricultural operations usually witnessed there.

The shooting schedules of a docu-fiction, ‘Vilkanundu Socialist Swapnangal,’ on the State’s political scenario and rural people have been engaging the attention of Pottasseri residents.

The docu-fiction, which is in the final stages of completion, is the brainchild of a group of political-minded local people and is produced on a shoe-string budget, mostly contributions from villagers. The villagers themselves enact the roles.

“‘Vilkanundu…’ resembles ‘Arabikatha’ in that it is a critique of the present political scenario in the State and the alleged feeling of helplessness experienced by Marxist party supporters at the grassroots level,” says Sivan Pottasseri, director of the docu-fiction and the driving force behind the venture.

“However, unlike ‘Arabikatha’ this is not a commercial venture. It is an attempt to make our voices heard. It is an appeal to the party for introspection,” says Sivan, an artist, drawn to the Communist Party in his youth.

Paltry pension

Pottasseri village comprises mainly of agricultural workers and daily wage earners where the Left has had a large following all along. Those involved in the making of the film include peasants who get a monthly old age pension of Rs. 60, organisers point out.

‘Vilkanundu…’ is down-to-earth in the real sense of the term. The smell of earth and those who toil there come alive in the docu-fiction.

A scene from

The film, to be completed by the end of November, will be showcased to the public through Internet.

Maleeha Raghaviah

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

Kerala