Cinematic kaleidoscope

Last year at the conclusion of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested a film festival in an effort to bridge the gap between the BRICS nations. The rest of the nations happily accepted his proposal, and the capital is all set to witness the first-ever BRICS Film Festival starting today at the Sirifort Auditorium Complex.

C. Senthil Rajan, director, Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) asserts, “The five-day festival will be a rare opportunity to mingle with the people from other countries — and to see how they react to cinema. It will not only showcase films but set the bar for a unique platform wherein nations (5 member countries including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) will present and exchange views and ideas on their dreams, worldview, culture, films, song, dance and food.”

Giving a glimpse of the festival, Senthil says, “Documentaries and student films will also be a huge part of the festival. We are also planning to invite filmmakers and actors from the participating nations to meet and discuss mutual film production ventures. We are planning to organise talks on different elements related to the world of cinemas such as women in cinema, their evolution, etc. too. Besides that, there will be an interesting food fair with cuisines from all the member nations which we are planning to put up at the festival venue. A craft fair is also being organised at the Sir Fort auditorium complex with all member countries putting up stalls with souvenirs and other properties for sale. Along with that, cultural troupes from all five nations will perform during the course of the film festival.”

The festival will open with an Indian film and close with a Chinese film as China will host the next film festival. And a total of 20 films and four from each country will be screened. “Veeram, the multilingual period film directed by Jayaraj starring Bollywood actor Kunal Kapoor in the lead, will be premiered at the opening night,” says Senthil, adding, “It is set in the 13th century Kerala and is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Following the trail of the tragic hero Chandu, the legendary Kalarippayattu warrior from the Vadakkanpattu of Northern Kerala, the lead, like Shakespeare’s Macbeth, meets a tragic end as an outcome of his betrayal. The story revolves around the protagonist’s greed, wherein the path is strewn with love, lust, treachery and deceit. The film has no songs and was mostly shot in Thiruvananthapuram, Ajanta and Ellora Caves in Aurangabad and Agra.”

A special jury will select Best Film, Best Actors in male and female artists and Best Director from the list of movies screened at the festival.

Giving an overview of the jury members including the chairperson who is from India, Senthil informs, “National award-winning Kannada director, writer, actor, T.S. Nagabharana, who served as the Chairman of Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy will chair the jury.”