With streaming services bringing transnational attention to Malayalam cinema, it becomes important to examine the nature of Kerala’s “new gen” cinema and to locate it in a longer history. C S Venkiteswaran, film critic, Don Palathara, film director, and Jolly Chirayath, actor, feature in Ala’s first audio essay on cinema in Kerala.
This is the sixth episode in Season 2 of Ala’s podcast series, focusing on modernity and Kerala. View all episodes here.
We discuss:
- 00:02:00 The evolution of cinema as an art in post-independence Kerala.
- 00:07:38 Absence of caste in early Malayalam cinema’s search for an egalitarian society.
- 00:16:10 Parallel or “new-wave” cinema and the influence of literature, theatre and other art forms.
- 00:21:49 Theatre’s influence on cinema- Jolly Chirayath shares her personal experience.
- 00:24:37 Film societies of Kerala.
- 00:34:24 Forms of interaction between cinema and the Gulf diaspora.
- 00:38:27 1990s Malayalam cinema.
- 00:43:12 Today’s “post-superstar” era and the birth of “new-gen” Malayalam cinema.
- 00:48:18 How progressive is “new-gen” cinema?
- 00:49:40 The politics of cinema as an industry and a workplace; WCC, Justice Hema Commission.
- 00:54:41 Pandemic time film-making.
- 00:59:36 Cinema’s turn towards the digital. The economy and politics of OTT platforms.
- 01:02:38 The politics of contemporary Malayalam cinema and the need to critically think about it.
About the Guests:
C. S. Venkiteswaran is a film critic, professor, documentary filmmaker, and writer who writes predominantly in English and Malayalam. He is a winner of the National Film Award for Best Film Critic in 2009. Don Palathara is a film director, screenwriter, and documentary filmmaker. Jolly Chirayath is an actress.
Interview/Editing: Renu Susan, S. Harikrishnan, Shilpa Parthan
Additional Reading and Resources
- Films mentioned/discussed:Vigathakumaran (1930), Marthandavarma (1933), Navalokam (1951), Neelakuyil (1954), Rarichan Enna Pouran (1956), Achanum Bappayum (1972), Ashwathama (1978), Uttarayanam (1975), Kallichellamma (1969), Aval Kadhaparayunnu, Manninte Maril (1979), Swayamvaram (1972), Shavam: The Corpse (2015), Everything is Cinema (2021), Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam (2021).
- ജാതീയത, സിനിമ, രാഷ്ട്രീയം, Ala
- The Newness of New-Generation Malayalam Cinema, Ala
- Time, Space And The Moral Pandemic, Outlook
- New Trails of Discovery, Frontline
- In Newgen Malayalam Cinema, Time Has Shrunk And with It The Notion of The Hero, The Scroll
- Noir and Rouge: Getting Under The Skin Of Indian Cinema, Outlook
- How To Laugh In Malayalam, Outlook
- Report: Shift Focus: Women Shaping the Narrative in Media and Entertainment, Women in Cinema Collective and Sakhi Women’s Resource Centre.
Happy to listen to the stimulating discussion on Modernity and Kerala entitled Rethinking ‘Keraleeyatha’: Behind the Malayalam Cinema ‘Brand’. Happened to recall the weekly Friday (as we have a longer lunch break) screenings by Movie Mania in Payyanur college since 1985. And later by Open Frame which continues to screen movies and conduct film fests regularly with Malayalam subtitles, thanks to K Ramachandran, P. Premachandran who lead the show. Listening to Venkiteswaran tracing the history and sociology of Malayalam Cinema and Jolly Chirayath exposing the politics of the field was enlightening, especially the collusion between the State and Capitalist forces. The insights from Don Palathara also strikes the listner.