MADURAI: M Kavinilavan, a final year M. Tech student from the Centre for Film and Electronic media studies, has brought glory to the Madurai-Kamaraj University (MKU) by winning the 'best video production of the year' award in CEC- University Grants Commission (UGC) Educational Video competition 2015-16, for his short film 'Mudhal Paadam'.
Acharya Dev Vrat, Governor of Himachal Pradesh conferred the award on him during the award ceremony organised by Himachal Pradesh University recently.
Kavinilavan, a rationalist, addressed the social problem in his 20-minute film from a personal narrative of a photographer who struggled to get a break in his career. The unique aspect of his movie is the transgender character which is performed by none other than Bharati Kannamma, a popular transgender activist from Madurai.
While reflecting on the struggles faced by transgender community in Tamil Nadu, Kannamma who acted as media professor in the film, remained a guiding spirit for the protagonist to succeed in his career. While the film empathizes with the sufferings of the poor, it seeks to drive home the point that media persons, particularly photographers, should not commodify instances of poverty, Kavinilavan said speaking to DC.
His film also won many awards in various national level and state level competitions across the country, said V. Ilamparithi, assistant professor the university centre. This movie was screened today as part of 'Spectrum Campus Film Festival' organised by the MKU Centre. The vice-chancellor P.P. Chellathurai inaugurated the event and also appreciated the students. Other films like 'Pagal' directed by final year M. Tech student Parthiban of the centre which has received 32, 00,000 views in YouTube was also screened during the event.
