The Kerala government recently announced their decision to include a course in Film Appreciation in the school syllabus. A move the Malayalam film industry has welcomed with open arms.Quality and content had once ruled the Malayalam film industry during the 80s and the 90s. The end of 90s and start of this century suddenly saw creative vacuum in the quality of films. The content of Malayalam films deteriorated during this period, mindless comedies, poor scripts and focus towards gimmicks to sell the film was prominent. Very few films stood out during this period. The films in a way started aping the Bollywood song and dances. Before this period the use of the songs always justified the story telling. Mindless song and dances done by starlets from the Tamil and North Indian states started getting work in the Malayalam industry. The industry showed a decline in content and viewers started looking for other forms of 
entertainment. Worse, the execution of the youthful song and dance, the campus stories were all done by film makers for whom this culture was alien as they were from an earlier generation. They were forced to work around this content to forcibly cater to this new teenage audience. Poor execution, bad costumes, vulgarity and poor production values too prevailed.
A career in films, by and far is seen as a social stigma in almost all of India. The general perception of parents is to make sure that their children pursue a career in engineering or
medicine, get a secure future. Films are not seen as a career at all, but their general perception is that films are for low scoring, good for nothing students who couldn’t figure what they wanted to with their lives. A career in technical area of films they believed could only be afforded by the rich. Films are a mode of entertainment, not a career option, stay away. Of course a lot of this can be attributed to the shocking tales of exploitation, casting couches and gossip stories told behind the sets, which the media enjoy publishing and people enjoy reading. A content called Masala. But then, the same people fail to understand that there is Masala in every industry and again there are positive sides to every industry. Your social stigma is wiped out the day you make it big in films. The day you can boast of a fat bank balance and an award.
Approach and attitudes to career in films will only change with moves like the Kerala government. Film appreciation will encourage children to see films in a different way; it will encourage young minds to imagine in a positive way. Understanding the fine nuances of a good film, will only encourage them to think of a career in films. They will choose better content over crap that is available in the market. A lot more will choose to pursue films as a career option since their basics of a good film is sound; they have grown watching good films. Actor Mammootty insisted that the subject should be kept optional, since that will only attract students who are serious about approaching this subject, which I agree.
A state that can boast of 100 % literacy, an industry that can boast of more National awards than any other state in the country in the area of films, a state where the two big superstars Mohanlal and Mammootty are great actors first and superstars later, only film industry in India to publish screenplays as a books will finally see the come back of good content and international cinema with the Kerala government’s decision.
There is hope.
Image Source -Google Image Search
entertainment. Worse, the execution of the youthful song and dance, the campus stories were all done by film makers for whom this culture was alien as they were from an earlier generation. They were forced to work around this content to forcibly cater to this new teenage audience. Poor execution, bad costumes, vulgarity and poor production values too prevailed.A career in films, by and far is seen as a social stigma in almost all of India. The general perception of parents is to make sure that their children pursue a career in engineering or
medicine, get a secure future. Films are not seen as a career at all, but their general perception is that films are for low scoring, good for nothing students who couldn’t figure what they wanted to with their lives. A career in technical area of films they believed could only be afforded by the rich. Films are a mode of entertainment, not a career option, stay away. Of course a lot of this can be attributed to the shocking tales of exploitation, casting couches and gossip stories told behind the sets, which the media enjoy publishing and people enjoy reading. A content called Masala. But then, the same people fail to understand that there is Masala in every industry and again there are positive sides to every industry. Your social stigma is wiped out the day you make it big in films. The day you can boast of a fat bank balance and an award.Approach and attitudes to career in films will only change with moves like the Kerala government. Film appreciation will encourage children to see films in a different way; it will encourage young minds to imagine in a positive way. Understanding the fine nuances of a good film, will only encourage them to think of a career in films. They will choose better content over crap that is available in the market. A lot more will choose to pursue films as a career option since their basics of a good film is sound; they have grown watching good films. Actor Mammootty insisted that the subject should be kept optional, since that will only attract students who are serious about approaching this subject, which I agree.
A state that can boast of 100 % literacy, an industry that can boast of more National awards than any other state in the country in the area of films, a state where the two big superstars Mohanlal and Mammootty are great actors first and superstars later, only film industry in India to publish screenplays as a books will finally see the come back of good content and international cinema with the Kerala government’s decision.
There is hope.
Image Source -Google Image Search
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2 comments:
I think malayalam films can teach a lot to the cine industry, around the world. We capture human relationships so beautifully and meaningfully unlike other industries.
Yesterday I happened to watch Kazcha, directed by Blessy . It immediately shot to my list of fav movies.
I'm a fellow Malayalee and an avid fan of Malayalam movies. I've always wanted to direct and write my own Malayalam film as well, but I realize that dream is distant at this point. In the meantime, I am learning about business and finance.
I would love to bounce off ideas with you if you are interested. Email me at deshadanam.kannan@gmail.com if you would like a third party to review your script or discussing means of financing your goals. I am sure you are at this point, tired of showing your script to umpteen number of critics. But I hope unlike most who add nothing to the process, I can add some value to your creative process.
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