Thiruvananthapuram: It all began when four admin staff at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) discovered that they shared one obsession - films. Between bites of tiffin, George Mathew, MND Nair, S B Jayaram and KNG Kaimal dissected Hollywood blockbusters, Oscar winners and Indian art films with equal fervour. That casual film club soon grew into a full-fledged film society called Chalachitra in 1976.
The Birth of a Film Society
The pioneering venture brought movie aficionados together through monthly screenings and built a community that now turns 50. The society no longer screens movies, but its legacy continues in the crowds that throng International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).
“We were inspired by Chitralekha Film Society, which was the first of its kind in the late 60s. We joined the society because it showed classics and non-commercial movies that were never screened in cinemas at that time. It was a new film culture,” Mathew said. But soon it switched to film production and the focus moved away from film screenings. “We were concerned about the direction it was going, and that worry led to the founding of Chalachitra,” he added.
Launch with a Bang
The society started with a bang. A seven-day film festival announced its arrival on the city’s cultural scene. These movies included Uttarayanam of G Aravindan, Aashad Ka Ek Din by Mani Kaul, Devi by Satyajit Ray, Chorus by Mrinal Sen and others.
“We found out that films can be obtained from National Film Development Corporation by paying a fee of Rs 300. Many of the films that we screened were from the corporation. We also managed to get some foreign films from 20 embassies,” Mathew said.
The success of the launch film fest made the organisers arrange a Mrinal Sen retrospective in two months. Seven films including Mrigaya, that later went on to win the Golden Lotus Award, were screened.
Growth and Challenges
The society soon progressed into monthly screenings, at Tagore Theatre. “However, its seating capacity was less than 800. So, we had to freeze our membership,” Mathew added. Later, the society started to organise Trivandrum International Film Festival from 1996 to 2013.
The city had a clientele for good movies. Sree Kumar Theatre was the place people watched renowned Hollywood movies including Oscar winning Dr Zhivago while Chitra Theatre screened Hindi movies, he said.
Legacy and Celebration
The society also brought out a magazine on world cinema called Close Look. It went on to become one of the most authentic works on film literature. Film societies began to lose relevance when TV first appeared in the mid-80s and when multiple channels came up in the 90s. Chalachitra may no longer screen movies, but the society’s founders, members and their families celebrated the 50th anniversary on Saturday.
