Exclusion of Adimadhyantham draws flak

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It has become almost certain that this year’s International Film Festival Kerala, which beings on December 9, will not have a single film to represent the Malayalam industry in the competition section, thanks to the film minister and Chalachithra Academy chairman! The two movies, Adaminte Makan Abu and Adimadhyantham, which were to carry the industry’s flag at the 9-day event, have been omitted on technical grounds by the IFFK authorities. Adaminte Makan Abu, which had won the ‘Rajatha Mayooram’ award at the IFFI in Goa, on Saturday, was rejected as per the IFFK festival by-law, which stipulates that movies which had participated in another film festival in India are not eligible for selection for competition section, while the ousting of Adimadhyantham has trodden on a murkier terrain. The movie, directed by the 38-year-old Sherry, which got the go-ahead nod from the IFFK selection committee, was, however, rejected by Academy Chairman Priyadarshan on the ground that it was submitted before the Jury in an incomplete format before completion of shooting, kicking up a row.  With the High Court rejecting a plea, the debutant director has announced that he would stage an indefinite fast till the IFFK reconsidered its decision. A Division Bench of the High Court will hear the petition on Tuesday.  The director has also managed to garner the support of some of the noted film personalities to rally behind him to push his case.The movie which was screened in the city on Sunday, has received huge accolades from the movie buffs and, more importantly, many bigwigs from the state’s film fraternity.  The viewers were in all praise for the simple but engrossing movie which portrays the story of a deaf boy in North Malabar who has to carry forward the family tradition by performing a ‘Vedan’ ritual. ‘’I don’t know why I had to face such injustice. I’ll fight against this unfair treatment because such actions would demoralise the young filmmakers like me,’’ said Sherry.  National award winning director T V Chandran who had showered praises after watching the film said, “It’s a really good film with a different theme, excellent visuals and a poetic flow,’’ he said. “The film’s exclusion from the IFFK competition section is an insult not only to its director, but to the Malayalam film industry as a whole,’’ he added. A mass petition signed by various filmmakers and other prominent personalities have been submitted to the Chief Minister, Opposition Leader, Minister for Cinema, Cultural Affairs Minister and the Academy chairman.