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What ails Malayalam cinema
Photo: S. Mahinsha
Video libraries are making hay while the sun shines. Photo: S. Mahinsha
Director holds the key
Cinema is the most visual of all genres of story-telling and the director is the storyteller. Not the actor. The characters in the story or the actors supersede the storyteller in Malayalam films. That makes the story-telling shoddy. This fact and not the competition from the small screen is what is troubling the Malayalam film industry.
A good director has to be a `filmmaker' and not just a `director.' Did it matter who acted for Eisenstein or Hitchcock or Ray or Aravindan? Song and dance and sex cannot substitute for a good story telling.
Ranjit Grover
Thripunithura
* * *
Get real
Life is in itself a great art. Hence, Malayalam cinema, especially modern cinema, should be related to life and reality. Fast-track numbers and dances may not live long. To save the Malayalam industry, themes should be heart-rending with melodious and meaningful rhythm. Old films like `Thakdheer' or its Malayalam version, `Vidhi', is a case in point.
P. A. Lal
Kochi.
* * *
Stop video release
The fall in theatre audience is the main problem faced by the film industry at present. One of the major factors responsible for this is the almost simultaneous release of films on CDs and video cassettes. Strong measures should be taken to control this.
Sheeba S
Palakkad
* * *
Formula One?
It is high time Malayalam filmmakers switched back to themes based on reality. They should stop making formula-based movies. People are tired of watching heroes play larger-than-life roles. The importance given to star value rather than a good story has led to the crisis. The plethora of female-oriented serials has captured the hearts of the womenfolk, who prefer to stay at home. Slapstick comedy in movies should make way for better humour.
Preethi Rajeev
Thripunithura
* * *
Modernise cinemas
Lack of good stories, plagiarism, dearth of versatile actors in the present generation, etc., are some of the reasons for the poor state of affairs in the cinema industry. We are fed up of slapstick comedies and dialogues filled with double meaning. The dilapidated condition of the movie halls with rats and bugs, non-availability of parking slots, faulty airconditioning, etc., keep the audience away from the theatres. We should develop `multiplexs' which facilitate multi-theatre complexes, cafeterias, Internet cafes, shopping malls and parking space.
Soumya Padmakumar
Thrissur
* * *
Learn from Tamil films
The Kerala film industry is strategically moving ahead. Since the beginning of the economic depression, cutting of costs has been the main criteria. Even a box-office flop brings adequate profit to the producer. This, in the long run, will only retard the film industry. The time has come for pumping in money for technological innovations. The Tamil Nadu film industry is a shining example.
Jayesh P. V
Kozhikode
* * *
Stop imitating
Imitation seems to be the main evil of Malayalam film industry. Malayalam films, once known for their originality, are now busy imitating big budget Tamil and Hindi films. Actors who once took pride in playing close to real life roles, now portray machismo on screen. Only when they regain the sparks of creativity, originality and reality, will we see crowds in cinema halls again. Let actors and actresses prevail, not stars.
Prasanna Krishnaraj
Kochi
* * *
Better stories required
The problem is nothing but the lack of good stories. Slapstick comedies and superhuman characters are ruling our screens which resulted in the deterioration of quality. Though successful, such films will succeed in the long run. Superstars must shed their macho images and choose quality roles.
Video piracy is another major problem. Satellite television channels vying to show the clips of films is another reason. This causes the people to make an early assessment of the films before seeing them in the theatres which adversely affects its success.
Ajith K
Chittur, Palakkad
* * *
Bring in young blood
The remedy would be bringing in younger actors to replace the waning stars. New blood may infuse new life in films. The success of new films with campus themes and introduction of new faces in lead roles is a positive sign and this must be continued in future.
Joseph George A
Thripunithura
* * *
Attract youth
Malayalam films today fail to attract the youth. The audience don't want to see aged heroes romance heroines half their age. What Malayalam films need today is a set of fresh ideas that will attract audiences.
Jeevan George
Chengannur
* * *
`Adipoli' no more!
Malayalam movies have run out of enthralling stories and have become saturated with the same type of dances, ear-splitting music and glamorous costumes. The imagination of producers has become barren. The most common response to a Malayalam movie today is that it is `adipoli'! A story that highlights a social problem or some human eccentricity provides substance to a movie and leaves an indelible impression in the minds of the audience. Everything else should be complementary. That is why, despite the lack of dance or song sequences or scenic shots, the small screen is able to entice viewers.
Sathia Menon
Thrissur
* * *
Marketing is the key
Strong measures should be taken against video piracy. The availability of the pirated copies of newly released films is the main problem. Also, there should be precise coordination between the producer, the director, and the scriptwriter for making a good film.
Innovative methods should be adopted for the marketing of films.
Subiraj K.B
Nattika
* * *
Better scripts
Films are the most affordable form of entertainment. But present-day films seem to have forgotten the concept of family-viewing. They have become products, with the concept of commercialisation having enveloped the industry. Though video piracy may be a reason, the fact remains that viewers desire the ambience of a cinema. Script writers should put on their thinking caps and write better stories to get back the audience.
Neetha Brijesh
Thrissur
* * *
Adopt new technology
One of the main factors is that our directors are just imitating other regional films. Most of the present day films lack a solid theme. They are filled with unnecessary group dances and fight scenes, which can satisfy only the `mass' audience. Malayalam filmmakers must look into the needs of the `class' audience.
Filmmakers must take advantage of television and Internet to promote their productions. They must take Hollywood as their model in the techniques of marketing. Most of the films released in Hollywood are being simultaneously released on the Internet too. Trailers are freely available on the net. This is a technology worth experimenting.
Same is the case with facilities available. Internet reservation must be made more accessible. Most of all, the directors must give an ear to the pulse of people- not the masses, but the classes.
Sreejith.V. Nair
Alappuzha
* * *
Artificial films
With scripts confined to love stories and limp comedies, Malayalam films seem artificial and absurd. The small screen with mega serials on joint families and other issues affecting the common man keeps the people occupied.
Thus, it is clear that people look forward to realistic themes from Malayalam films. They are disappointed with the older generation heroes. Film music has also lost its charm.
Deepa S
Palakkad
* * *
Hike ticket rates
People are afraid to go to cinemas with family due to the ever-increasing presence of hooligans and goondas. Theatre owners take it for granted that parking of cars and two-wheelers is the responsibility of the viewer.
There should be only three shows a day with sufficient gap between each show so that there is no congestion for either buying tickets or parking the vehicle. Balcony tickets should cost a minimum of Rs. 75 to Rs. 100 so that a section of the audience that creates problem can be weeded out and family audiences are encouraged to come to the theatres. Increasing the balcony rates will also more than compensate for the cancellation of noon shows. The seats and toilets should be maintained in perfect condition and audience should be offered snacks and drinks.
Harikrishnan P.K
Kochi
* * *
Taste has changed
The failure of Malayalam cinema can be attributed mainly due to the deteriorating taste of the audience today. People are no longer interested in beautiful films with a message or other serious themes.
What they want is any garbage that appeals to their downtrodden sense of entertainment. Films that portray characters of great depth are very few these days as such films are secluded away from the mainstream slapstick & are branded as "award film" type. Todays film goers have no taste for films of substance.
Apart from this, directors too are to blame. They repeat the formula of any box office success until the audience gets bored.
Ashick Ali
Kothamangalam
* * *
Gear up
Mediocre films, stereotyped slapstick comedies, ageing heroes, lack of innovation in craft and technique and a complete lack of social responsibility and commitment is what is plaguing the film industry.
All other factors attributable to the crisis, like the influence of the small screen, rising ticket cost, changing attitude of audience, etc., play only a secondary role.
Nisha Suresh
Ponnani
* * *
Next issue
There is a strong argument in favour of schools starting and ending classes early each day. Much of the congestion on the roads has been blamed on the overlapping of school and office timings, making for the dreaded peak hour rush. It is also pointed out that early morning classes are beneficial for students in more ways than one, though office-going parents may find it a hassle. At present, only in selected schools do classes start before 9 a.m. and end before 3 p.m. Do you think all schools should adopt this schedule?
Please send your responses, to a maximum length of 300 words, marked `Peoplespeak', by post, by email or by hand so as to reach us not later than December 25. The postal address is, `The Hindu, National Highway, Bypass Road, Vyttila Junction, Kochi-682019.' Responses by email (in plain text format) may be sent to: `kochipeoplespeak@thehindu.co.in'.
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