Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 14 (UNI) The 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) will pay respects to four legends in the Homage category.
This special tribute section, which IFFK carries every year, will feature four remarkable films to commemorate the brilliance of renowned artists.
The Homage category includes films of veteran filmmakers Utpalendu Chakraborty (Chokh), M Mohan (Rachana), Kumar Shahani (Tarang), and Harikumar (Sukrutham).
Utpalendu Chakraborty is a National award-winning filmmaker, who worked in Bengali Cinema. Born in 1948 in Calcutta, Chakraborty is best known for Chokh, which explores the story of a labourer who is wrongly accused in a murder of his owner’s brother.
The film won the National Award for Best Feature Film. His other works include Debshishu (1985), Chhandaneer (1989) and The Music of Satyajith Ray (1984).
He belonged to the generation of new wave directors in the 1980s, presenting themes of concrete and political narrative. Chokh will be screened at New Theatre on 14th December at 6:15pm.
Rachana directed by M Mohan is about a writer who seeks inspiration by urging his wife to have an affair with her new colleague. The line between his story and reality is blurred during the process. The film won the Kerala State Award for Best Actor and Best Actress.
Mohan was a part of the new wave in the Malayalam film industry in the late 1970s and 80s. Vida Parayum munpe , Pakshe, Angane Oru Avadhikalathu, Isabella, and Idavela are some of his prominent works. Rachana will be screened at Nila theatre on 14th December at 6:30pm.
Kumar Shahani ’s Tarang tells the story of a wealthy family whose peaceful life gets shattered due to unexpected deaths and hidden betrayals.
The film was screened at the Berlin International Festival and the Rotterdam International Film Festival. Shahani was an influential Indian filmmaker known for his significant contributions to parallel cinema.
His other notable works include Maya Darpan (1972), Khayal Gatha (1989), and Kasba (1990). Tarang will be screened at Nila Theatre on 17th December at 5pm.
Malayalam screenwriter and film director, Harikumar has directed films including Ayanam, Clint, and Udyanapalakan. His best work, Sukrutham, released in 1994, tells the story of a journalist who miraculously recovers from blood cancer after a special treatment.
The film won the National Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam. Harikumar was a jury member of the National Film Awards in 2005 and 2008. He was an advocate of middle cinema, aiming to make meaningful, yet commercially viable films. Sukrutham will be screened at Nila theatre on 18th December at 5:30pm.
Films of Kaviyoor Ponnamma , Chelavoor Venu, Neyattinkara Komalam are also included in this category.
As part of this, Kerala State Chalachitra Academy is publishing books based on these legends.
Drishymohanam based on M Mohan, edited by Pradip Nair, Sukruthasmrithi based on Harikumar, edited by P M Binukumar, Charithranayika, based on Neyattinkara Komalam’s life, edited by Dr. Reshmi G and Dr Anil K S, Ormapattu based on Kaviyoor Ponnamma’s life, edited by Bhagyalakshmi and Cinemayude Sahayathrikan , based on Chelavoor Venu’s life, edited by O P Suresh, form the list.
The Homage category of this year’s IFFK, happening from December 13 to 20, will serve as a tribute to the legends of Indian cinema.
