#Ajayan
Kochi | It was three days of profound dialogues, delving into the realms of cinema, literature, environmental contemplations and fine arts. This was intertwined with captivating artistic presentations, marking the culmination of the second edition of the Peruvanam International Village Festival at Peruvanam in Thrissur on Sunday.
Renowned Kannada filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli argued that, considering the multifaceted nature of the political, cultural, and social landscape, the more fitting term would be "Indian cinemas" as each Indian language cinema had distinct identities. Disaster management expert Muralee Thummarukudi diverged from the prevailing public sentiment, asserting that Kerala's environment was currently experiencing an unparalleled phase of prosperity, spanning over a century.
In his interaction with film critic CS Venkiteswaran during the festival, Kasaravalli said Bollywood cinema was not Indian cinema at all. “When you talk about Indian cinema you talk about it as one cultural entity. It is not so,” he asserted.
Indian new wave films were different from the French ones and had nothing to do with existentialism or Godard. In some pockets of the country people were still making interesting films. Unfortunately, people did not get to watch or read about them, he added. “It’s a global phenomenon. Once the world has become a globalised market we have lost the uniqueness of each region. You can’t blame filmmakers for that,” he said.
Thummarukudi asserted that the public perception that Kerala's environment was degrading was wrong. “If you look into the last 100 years, this is the most progressive period for Kerala's environment, according to all parameters,” he said, pointing to the drastic drop in deforestation and expansion of the green canopy. The use of firewood too had dropped substantially.
On the oft-heard claim regarding the deterioration of the Kuttanad environment, specifically the reclamation of paddy fields, he contended that not every expanse had succumbed to filling. Instead, he asserted that the unreclaimed portions would revert to their intrinsic natural state over time.
However, the lamentable aspect was that lies people had severed their organic bond with nature, and the imperative now was to reinstate that connection. "The organic relationship with nature has undergone a profound shift within merely one generation. This transformation has bred the misconception that the destruction of nature holds no personal repercussions for any of us."
Pointing to another evident departure from the past when art and literature played pivotal roles in fostering environmental consciousness in Kerala, he said such engagement was conspicuously absent today, both locally and globally.
Thummarkudi also delved into the crisis unfolding in the State, characterized by the exodus of its youth. The emerging generation, disheartened and disillusioned with prospects in Kerala, was opting to depart for foreign shores if afforded the opportunity. Within the next five years, he predicted, a quarter of the State's children would find themselves overseas. This predicament posed an enigma, as the best and most astute minds would be abroad, leaving the remainder to step into leadership roles and shape policies.
Among others who addressed the gathering over the three days included mythologist and author Devdutt Pattanaik, political analyst advocate S Jayasankar, director Sathyan Anthikkad, artist and brain behind the first Kochi Biennale Riyaz Komu, critic and writer Aju K Narayanan, renowned chef Suresh Pillai, publisher Pepin Thomas and writer Ashtamoorthi, among others.
