KSFDC to Produce 4 Films this Fiscal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) is all set to produce four films in the current financial year on behalf of the state government. Two of these will be under the pioneering ‘Films Directed by Women’ project, while the others will be part of a path-breaking initiative to support aspiring filmmakers from the SC/ST (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) communities.

In the ‘Films Directed by Women’ category, KSFDC selected Victoria, helmed by Sivaranjini. J, and Mumtha by Farzana P for production. The films from SC/ST categories are Pralayasesham Oru Jalakanyaka, directed by Manoj Kumar C.S. and Kaadu by Suneesh Vadakkumpadan.

KSFDC got entries from 41 women directors in the first category, while 62 applied from SC/ST category. A Jury comprising filmmaker Rajiv Nath as Chairman, writer V.J. James and danseuse-writer Dr Rajashree Warrier as members selected 15 applications from two categories.

In the second phase, the number of films was whittled down to five each from both the categories. After evaluating the submission and presentation of screenplays by the makers of these films through online and offline workshops, led by film directors Amit Tyagi, Priya Krishnaswamy and Atul Taishete, four films were selected for production.

The directors from both categories (of five films each) were selected by a jury comprising directors Priyanandanan as Chairman and Salim Ahamed and Dr Rajashree Warrier as members.

In 2019-20, KSFDC produced director Tara Ramanujan’s Nishiddho (Forbidden) and Mini I.G.’s Divorce under the women directors’ project, in a bid to support aspiring women directors by bringing into full play their cinematic abilities. Both the films are gearing up for release.

The post-production works of Sruthi Namboodiri’s B 32-44 and Indu V.R.’s Nila (both selected in 2020-21) are in full swing.

Films by directors from SC/ST project was launched in 2020-21. The shooting for two films — V.S. Sanoj’s Ariku and Arun J Mohan’s Pirathi — under this category is currently going on.

The 1975-founded KSFDC is the country’s first public-sector corporation for film development.