The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Source of inspiration

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Thursday, May 29, 2008
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Kerala - Kochi

Source of inspiration

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: John Abraham continues to inspire his friends, even more than two decades after his death. On May 30, his death anniversary, his friends are coming together again, this time to take some steps towards his dream.

The commemoration this year will begin with an exhibition of paintings, jointly organised by the Orthic Creative Centre and Cultural Centre, Kozhikode. Eighteen works done at the A.C.K. Raja Memorial Painting Camp held at Kottukunnu, Kozhikode, on May 2007 will be exhibited at the Nanappa Gallery of the Orthic Creative Centre.

Works will also be on display at Eka Art Gallery, Fort Kochi. The exhibitions will go on till June 14. But the highlight of this year’s commemorative meeting will be a get-together of those who associated with John Abraham in his magnum opus Amma Ariyan. The meeting is being planned at Fort Kochi, which used to be one of the favourite haunts of the filmmaker.

Cinematographer Venu, editor Beena Paul, actors Harinarayanan, Joy Mathew and others will come together. And they will not be just sharing memories. The group of friends will organise a screening of John Abraham films. In a career spread over 14 years, John made only four films.

But the greatest impact that he made in the film industry, which was never repeated after him, was breaking the financial yoke involved in producing films. John Abraham was instrumental in forming Odessa Collective, a group of film buffs. They made history by producing their first film Amma Ariyan with contribution from the general public.

And now, the Odessians are coming back and pondering over what to do to revive the movement. John Abraham would not have preferred anything else.

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