The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : More than just watching films

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Saturday, Oct 23, 2010
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Karnataka - Bangalore

More than just watching films

Vikhar Ahmed Sayeed

beyond the STORY:An orphan's life takes a profound turn in ‘Janaki… Daughter of Earth'.

BANGALORE: The alumni association of the NSS College of Engineering of Palakkad in Bangalore (NECAB) has been active over the past year and have periodically screened acclaimed film, mainly Malayalam.

In the past, it has screened films such as Thalappavu, Nizhalkkuthu and Harishchandrachi Factory. What sets the NECAB screenings apart from other film society screenings in the city is the active discussion that follows the screening in the presence of the film's director. The audience is lively, informed and ensures that the session that follows the screening makes it worth attending rather than just watching the film on DVD.

Seventh matinee

The seventh NECAB matinee is being presented this Sunday, October 24. Three films are slated to be screened from 2.30 p.m. onwards.

The main attraction of the afternoon is Janaki...Daughter of Earth (92 min, Malayalam with English subtitles). Directed by the well-known Malayalam theatre actor and writer M.G. Sasi, Janaki is his second feature film. His first, Adayalangal (2007), was widely acclaimed and won several awards. Janaki has already won the award for the Best Children's Rights film at the Lola Kenya Screen Film Festival.

Metaphorically rich

The film, on the face of it, is about Janaki, a 12-year-old orphan on the streets who finds love in an elderly Gandhian's abode. But after the death of her protector, she is thrown back on the streets to face the wretched realities of life again. Metaphorically rich, the film uses the symbol of Janaki as a representative of dejected womanhood. The archetype of Janaki is, of course, Sita.

Kanavu Malayilekku (45 min, Malayalam documentary with English subtitles) and Mahatma Angayodu (25 min, Malayalam with English subtitles) are also award-winning films that will be screened on Sunday. While the documentary looks at the self-assertion of a group of tribal children, Mahatma is a short based on Vaikkom Muhammad Basheer's short story Kallanottu (Fake Notes). Sasi will be present at the venue to take part in the discussion.

The screening is at the Subex Auditorium at 2.30 p.m. on Sunday. For details and entry passes, call Manoj K.C. (98456-92010) or Nishanth Nair (90088-55133).

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