Plan for mobile cinema theatres in rural areas

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy is planning to roll out mobile cinema theatres for the rural areas of the State,  Forest and Cinema Minister K B Ganesh Kumar said on Wednesday. He was speaking after inaugurating a month-long travelling film fest titled ‘Chitra Tarangam’ at the Cotton Hill Girls High School here. The mobile threatres for rural areas, which will be arranged inside a bus, will have a seating capacity for thirty viewers.  He said that good theaters were essential for fostering a healthy film culture in the society. After the UDF government came to power, 13  theatres were airconditioned. He reiterated that Kerala must have a large film festival complex.The Minister lamented that certain sections of the media and bureaucracy were interpreting the efforts taken by him and Shashi Tharoor MP for establishing a festival complex as a ‘’plot.’’ He said that cinema can spread a good message as well as a negative message. Majority of the flicks are good. He also advised students against watching films by downloading them from the Internet. ‘Chitra Tarangam’ is being organised by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy in association with the Children’s Film Society of India and the Directorate of Public Instruction. The academy hopes to make it an annual event. The first edition of the festival will feature 12 films, including award-winning films like ‘Malli’,   ‘Sunday’, ‘Halo’ and ‘Chotta Sipahi’. Films by internationally acclaimed directors like Sivan, Santhosh Sivan and Virendra Saini are also the part  of the fete. Flicks are being screened at selected schools in all 14 districts. The fete will conclude on  October 14. Transport Minister V S Sivakumar presided over the function. He said that aim of the ‘Chitra Tarangam’ was to  create a good film culture in society. Children’s Film Society of India Chairperson Nandita Das was present on the occasion. She said that ‘Chitra Tarangam’ should be a role model for other states. The main artists of the inaugural film ‘Keshu,’ Navaneeth and Amala, were also present on the occasion. Chalachitra Academy deputy director Beena Paul proposed a vote of thanks. The film ‘Keshu ‘ was screened after the function.