Movie Cab to take 'art' film to viewers

Thiruvananthapuram: At a time when art house movies find it difficult to get cinemas for release, a "cinema vandi" (movie cab) will soon travel the length and breadth of Kerala screening award-winning movie "Oralpokkam" (Six Feet High).

The cab, comprising a high quality projector and other equipment, will screen the movie before select gatherings with the support of local film clubs and societies by later this month, the team behind the movie said.

Helmed by upcoming director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, the movie revolves around the theme of complexities of man-woman relationship in the backdrop of the Himalayan floods.

The online crowd-funded movie has bagged the prestigious NETPAC and FIPRESCI awards for the best Malayalam film in the recently concluded 19th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).

Sasidharan said the special screenings are an attempt to revive interest for quality movies at the grassroot level of society.

"It is an attempt to bring our movie before the hidden audience in society who appreciate quality movies. Breaking the conventional practise of audience going to theatres to watch movies, we are planning to go to them and screen our work before them," he told PTI.

He said theatres have become more city-centric these days in Kerala as B-class theatres are struggling for survival and a majority of C-class theatres have been closed down.

"City-centric theatres are reluctant to screen movies like 'Oralpokkam'. But there are many people who really wish to watch such critically appreciated movies. This prompted us to think about an alternative to take our movie to them," he said.