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In the eye of the storm

D Jose

The film fraternity in Kerala is in the midst of a controversy over whether a director can participate in the competition section of a film festival he himself controls.

The debate was sparked by the decision of noted filmmaker, Shaji N Karun, to send his latest film, Vanaprastham, for the competition section of the International Film Festival of Kerala currently under way in Kozhikode.

Along with 14 other films, Vanaprastham was selected by a committee comprising Prof Sankaramangalam, former head of the Film and Television Institute of India, K G George, director, Meera Sahib and Dr Geetha, members of the Kerala Film Academy Governing Council. The film, produced by superstar Mohanlal, was one of the few chosen from among the 45 entries received by the festival directorate.

Many have questioned the propriety of Shaji's film vying for top honours at the festival. Mainly because he happens to be the chairman of the Kerala Chalchithra Academy which is conducting the festival.

Those opposing Shaji's decision got a shot-in-the-arm when IFFK jury chairman Derek Malcolm himself said it was embarrassing for him to judge Vanaprastham, when its director was his host. Malcolm, who is also chairman of the International Film Critics' Association, made a fervent plea to Shaji to withdraw his film. He feels that if it goes on to win an award, the jury might be accused of having been influenced in its decision.

Some other members of the jury also said that the situation was embarrassing for them. However, Derek added, he has seen all of Shaji's films and was impressed by them.

But Tadao Sato, a Japanese critic and a member of the jury, did not find anything wrong in having Shaji's film in the competition section. "I am a film critic and am not bothered about organisational aspects," he declared.

As for the man in the eye of the storm, he has stuck to his decision, saying there was nothing improper in his film contesting since most film festivals in the world are run by film-makers. "You cannot expect them not to make films just because they are festival directors," he said.

He went on to add that he had no right to withdraw the film as it was entered in the competition section by its producer. "How can I deny him his right?" he asked. "What if the selection committee had rejected it? Didn't I wholeheartedly accept the jury's verdict when Vanaprastham did not get the two best slots at the state awards?"

The director said he is upset about the entire controversy. "I am deeply pained by the unfair criticism levelled against me. Is this how I am being repaid for what I do for the Academy? I have been working for more than 20 hours a day to make the festival a success," he said.

Shaji was earlier unhappy with the alleged arrogance shown by the media towards his latest film, which brought him the state award for best director this year. "An artiste can be destroyed, but a work of art cannot be touched, it will stand the test of time," Shaji said, reacting to the attempt made by a section of the media to belittle the film. "It's criminal to think that being the academy chairman, I influence the jury."

Interestingly, this controversy over academy members contesting for film awards has been raging for some time now. Last year, several members, including K T Kunhumohammad, had resigned from the academy following such criticism. Kunhumohammad's film Grashome went on to win awards in the same year.