Bringing Indie films to the fore

A matinee show with a tub full of popcorn is the usual weekend practice of every single movie-goer in the city. Chennaiites tryst with films dates back to MGR and Sivaji’s times. The Tamil film industry had a golden era back then, with many realistic films being made. Though there is a dip in sensible studio films, indie films — local and from other languages — have taken their place. Tamil Nadu, over the last few years, has become a hub for such independent ventures. In addition, this trend was nurtured by several mainstream filmmakers in the city along with film communities around town. It has picked up to the point where every other week witnesses the screening of a low-budget regional indie flick that couldn’t find its way into theatres — supported by Kolly filmmakers themselves!

From Marathi phenomenon Sairat, to Court, to the recent Malayalam film Ozhivudivasathe Kali, which will be released in the city today with the help of Cinema Research Centre, filmmakers like Sruti Harihara Subramanian and Shylaja Chetlur are truly setting an example for the rest of the country to follow — uniting languages and ensuring every film has a voice across borders.
Director of Ozhivudivasathe Kali, Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, tells DC, “My film will be screened today onwards at Sathyam Cinemas. I am glad that people like Sruti are supporting independent films. I had difficulty in releasing the film in Kerala. I met the distributors and theatre owners in Kerala to release. Since there were no big stars, they were little apprehensive about it. But later, filmmaker Aashiq Abu came forward and supported me.”

Sanal opines that even if an audience is interested in watching indie films, it’s not accessible for them. The reason: no distributors and no takers! Most filmmakers bank on word-of-mouth and social media support. “I strongly believe that people will watch my film. We can’t blame anyone here — but when new people come with good films, they should be provided with a platform to showcase their talent,” Sanal says, adding, “But, things are changing.”

Entrepreneur and filmmaker Sruti who is supporting Sanal, says, “Though Ozhivudivasathe... is an offbeat film, it is definitely an entertaining one. If we get more support from mainstream filmmakers and actors, it will be great. Because they have huge fan following and also have a wider reach.” Unlike earlier days, the audience is more open to such films. Sruti urges filmmakers to be braver and come up with good films — “Sanal’s film did well in Kerala and also received appreciation at many film festivals across the country.”

Shylaja Chetlur, of the movie club Cinema Rendezvous, who had organised the special screening of Sairat with PVR last month, is very keen in supporting indie filmmakers. “Audiences are opening up to quality films from other languages. They are open to experiments, thanks to social media.” The movie buff also wishes to speak to Samuthirakani to screen his film Appa, sometime later.

What about the audience who comes to watch indie films? “It is mixed — women, budding filmmakers and youngsters are coming for the screening. We should start a better movement for indie films with the support of big directors, actors and other well-wishers,” Shylaja adds. Hollywood actor Roger Narayan, who has acted in Kannada film U-turn, says, “I am glad that indie films and the people behind it are getting the much-needed attention. People don’t consider me just as an independent film actor — I am getting offers from mainstream films, as well,” he says with a chuckle.

The actor, who has worked in a broad range of genres and mediums, feels that things are getting better these days. “We can’t predict anything in films — things are constantly changing. Filmmakers should keep making good films, producers should come forward and bankroll such films, and even distributors should come up to distribute indie cinema.” He feels that the thought process of movie-buffs is changing. “Cinema — be it mainstream or independent — is a powerful medium.”

Filmmaker-actor-chat-show host Lakshmy Ramakrishnan states that the language borders are slowly disappearing. “Many Tamil films are going to other states and doing good business. Likewise, other language films are getting good support from Tamil audience also.” We hope to see more and more filmmakers coming up with interesting indie films and more mainstream filmmakers supporting them unanimously.