Kazhcha Chalachithra Vedi
| Kazhcha Chalachithra Vedi | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Film Society |
| Location(s) | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Country | India |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Website | [1] |
Kazhcha Chalachithra Vedi (Malayalam: കാഴ്ച ചലച്ചിത്ര വേദി or English: Kazhcha Film Forum) is a film collective in Kerala state, India. It started in the year 2001 at Neyyattinkara thaluk in Thiruvananthapuram district as a collective effort of young film lovers.[1] The aim of the Kazhcha Chalachithra Vedi is to make films with artistic value with the contribution from the society. It has produced three short films with the ideology of ‘people’s cinema’. In the year 2013 the film society has been registered under the Travancore-Cochin Literary,Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1955.
About
Kazhcha Chalachithra Vedi has produced its first-ever movie "Wonder World" with the finance chipped in by film lovers. "Wonderworld" was scripted and directed by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, Camera was handled by Sunny Joseph and the film was edited by Beena Paul. It was exhibited in the competition section of International Video film Festival (IVFest 2003).[2] In the year 2008 Kazhcha Chalachithra Vedi has produced another short movie "Parole" which has gained attention as the first ever movie came out from Malayalam Bloggers community.
In 2012 It has produced its third short movie Frog, which has participated in many international Short film festivals and awarded best telefilm in the Kerala state television awards 2012 instituted by Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. It has also received award for best back ground music and a special jury mention for acting.
Kazhcha Chalachithra Vedi has produced it first feature film Oraalppokkam with crowd sourcing in 2014. Noted Indo-English Poet and activist Meena Kandasamy and noted Producer-Actor Prakash Bare, young Bangali film director Bikrajit Gupta are playing the lead role.[3]
Programs
Kazhcha Chalachithra Vedi is engaged in various film society activities in Kerala including crowdfunded film production, Crowd sourced alternative film distribution[6], film screenings and organizing film festival[7]
- Production of movies
- Alternate distribution
- Film Festival
Short Films
Kazhcha produced three short films Athisayalokam in 2001, Parole in 2008 and Frog in 2012. All of them were directed by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan. Athisaya Lokam was a crowd funded attempt inspired from the great film activist and visionary director John Abraham. The short film was produced by the small contributions collected from the people of Perumkadavila, Marayamuttom, Keezharoor and other parts of Thiruvananthapuram district. Parole and Frog were supported by online friends of Sanal Kumar Saidharan [8]
Feature Films
- Oraalppokkam (2014)
- EliEli Lama Sabachthani? (2016)
In 2013 Kazhcha started its first full length feature film, Oraalppokkam through crowd funding. More than 100 people contributed to this production and this film was again directed by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan. Prakash Bare and Meena Kandasamy acted in the lead roles and the film won International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) awards in the International Film Festival of Kerala. It also won Kerala State Film Awards Best Director for Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, Best Location Sound Recording for Sandeep Kurissery and Jiji P Joseph.[9] [10] [11]
In 2016 Kazhcha has produced its second feature film, Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani? again through crowd funding. The film is produced in Marathi language. The film was directed by Jiju Antony. The film has been screened in major international film festivals in India [12].
In 2018 Kazhcha has announced its third feature film project by an entire women crew. It has invited entries for the project from aspiring women directors [13].
Cinemavandi
In the year 2015, Kazhcha Started Cinemavandi, for the parallel distribution of Oraalppokkam. Film maker Adoor Gopalakrishnan inaugurated the Cinema vandi movement.[14]. Cinema Vandi traveled through the breadth and width of Kerala and screened the film in more than 100 locations. An Omini Van was purchased and converted to a cinema cab. The Cinemavandi travelled across Kerala with projector, screen and sound equipment.[15]. The cinema vandi movement helped to create a favorable atmosphere to art films for theatrical release in Kerala. Following the successful run of Cinema Vandi, Oraalppokkam was released in movie theaters across Kerala [16]
In 2016 Cinema Vandi again traveled with Savam by Don Palathara[17] and it could screen the film in more than 60 localities. In 2017 Cinema Vandi travelled with Ozhivudivasathe Kali, Oraalppokkam and Kari, which was the third attempt by Cinema Vandi[18]
Film Festival
In 2017 we[who?] started Kazhcha Indie Film Festival to counter the unhealthy selection process in IFFK and bring up a space for independent films in India. Anand Gandhi, one of the pioneers in the independent filmmakers in India now, inaugurated the festival. The festival runs alongside IFFK for four days. [19] [20] The first edition of the film festival has screened 13 indie films from across the country which were neglected by IFFK[21]. In 2018 Kazhcha renamed the festival as Kniff, Kazhcha-Niv Indie film Fest to acknowledge the contributions of our long term partner Niv Art Movies[22].
References
- ^ Matter of life and death - The Hindu
- ^ "Movie out of a blog". Kochi, India: The New Indian Express. 7 January 2009.
- ^ Writer to face the arc lights - The Hindu
- ^ "ബൂലോഗത്തില് നിന്ന് ഒരു സിനിമ". ePathram. 1 December 2008.
- ^ "കേരള സംസ്ഥാന ടെലിവിഷൻ അവാർഡ്" (PDF). keralafilm.
- ^ Uncensored | Sanal Kumar Sasidharan Q&A - India Today
- ^ Cinema of substance at KNIFF 2018 - The Hindu
- ^ Kazhcha Film Forum inviting concepts for making crowd-funded movie - On Manorama
- ^ Meena Kandasamy to face the arc lights - The Hindu
- ^ ‘Oraalppokkam’ going places - Ytalkies
- ^ Resounding success - The Hindu
- ^ The crowdfunded feature, directed by Jiju Antony - Cinestaan
- ^ Kazhcha Film Forum inviting concepts for making crowd-funded movie - Onmanorama
- ^ Movie on wheels - The Hindu
- ^ 'The best director award came as a surprise' - Rediff
- ^ New heights of cinematic creativity - The Hindu
- ^ ‘Cinema Vandi’ is back on the road - The Hindu
- ^ Karie to be Released via Cinema Cab - The Hindu
- ^ Kazhcha Indie Film Fest gives a platform for indie movies - The Hindu
- ^ Kazcha Indie Film Festival to begin on Friday - Times of India
- ^ Kazhcha Indie Film Festival announces lineup with 13 indies - Cinestan
- ^ KNIFF film fest from today - The Hindu