The Indian Panorama Film Festival in Shillong made an impact despite being scaled down, says Joe Hynniewta
THE THIRD edition of the Indian Panorama Film Festival in Shillong had a cozier feel to it this year. Although scaled down in size, its scope was no less important and was able to reach thousands of students and film enthusiasts over three days.
Organised at U Soso Tham Auditorium on March 12-14 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s Directorate of Film Festivals and the Directorate of Information and Public Relations, the festival screened 12 films, including documentaries, short films and feature-length movies.
The venue was decorated in an inviting style, with outdoor lighting, food stalls and a stage that encouraged many a festival goer to click selfies. The opening ceremony also saw entertaining performances, celebrating Meghalaya’s diverse culture, by Khmih, Ahowee, Reynold Pala, Desmond Sunn and the Gitanjali Dance Academy.
Indian Panorama is a section of the International Film Festival of India, the largest film fest in the country, and one of the reasons for taking the even on the road is to promote the culture of filmmaking. The films selected represent the best of contemporary Indian cinema and are examples of cinematic and aesthetic excellence.
The movies screened this year either won awards in their own right or were made by award-winning directors.
Cinema speaks a common language and transcends barriers, whether cultural or political. The movies on offer at IPFF 2015 came from around the country but each one had something relevant to say to a North East audience.
The festival opener was ‘Dr Prakash Baba Amte: The Real Hero’, a 2013 Marathi film directed by Samruoddhi Porey, who was on hand at the inauguration. The two-hour biopic focuses on the life of social worker Prakash Amte and his wife Mandakini, who have devoted their lives towards the uplifting the lives of rural people in their native state.
Other films on offer included the multiple award-winning Kerala film ‘Drishyam’, directed by Jeethu Joseph and ‘December–1’, a story of a poor Karnataka family that experiences terrible hardship after a visit by their Chief Minister. The film claimed two honours at the 61st National Film Awards and writer-director P Sheshadri was on hand to field questions on various aspects of the movie and what inspired him to make it.
Closer to home, the documentary ‘Songs of the Blue Hills’ explored the efforts of members of the Naga community to preserve their traditional music, some by holding tenaciously on to tradition, while others meld modern elements to create fusion folk music.
The biggest draw of the event was the penultimate movie, ‘Ri: Homeland of Uncertainty’, which packed the auditorium on the final day of the festival. A National Film Award-winning movie directed by Pradip Kurbah and starring Merlvin Mukhim, Elgiva Shullai and Albert Mawrie, the movie, released last year, deals with militancy in Meghalaya and one cadre’s disillusionment with the path he has chosen.
One filmmaker who seems to love coming to Shillong is Anjan Dutt, whose Bengali “rock musical” ‘Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbona’ (Ranjana, I will not come back again) was screened on the second day.
Dutt is becoming a familiar face in the state after also being a part of last year’s IPFF. Having attended numerous film festivals, the writer-director, musician and actor feels that there are a few unique things about this event that will keep him coming back.
“This festival is very cute. I’ve been to a lot of festivals in and out of the country, but here I get to meet a lot of young colleagues and talents, who come to the festival,” Dutt said before a well-attended interaction with the audience.
“Last year I met a few youngsters who make low budget films on DSLR cameras, very interesting films. We interacted and we’ve kept in touch since then. A festival like this is a very interesting way to get to know the cinema situation in the North East and the young filmmakers who are making movies with their own money. That has been an opening for me,” Dutt added.
Dutt’s enthusiasm for Meghalaya extends to plans to make a movie here, which should get off the ground early next year. He encountered quite a lot of resistance from producers to come and film in the state, but said that he has finally found someone willing to explore the opportunity.
“I’ve been planning since last year to shoot a film here. I know that this place has tremendous potential. It will give Indian cinema a different look. This place has possibilities, the town, the heritage – on one hand so ethnic, on the other so colonial. Stories can be told here,” he said.