What’s the verdict on axing all official celebrations of Kerala?

As the State is trying to limp back to normalcy after the devastating floods, the Kerala government has decided to cancel all state-funded festivals and celebrations for a year, and use the money to re-build the State. This would mean that the two important events – the International Film Festival of Kerala (

IFFK

) and the Kerala State School Youth Festival – won’t be held this year. But is the cancellation of these signature cultural events truly a wise decision considering the socio-economic future of the State? We talk to a few eminent personalities to find out:

‘Contributing every penny to the relief operation is important now’ : Mahesh Panju, secretary of the Kerala State Chalachithra Academy

The cost of organising IFFK every year has been `6 crore. Last year, the fest had paid tribute to the victims who lost their lives due to the Ockhi cyclone by eliminating the grandeur. The loss caused by the floods is much more massive and `6 crore would be a significant amount for relief operations.
Though the fund for the fest is allocated by the government, the earnings from ticket sales is about `75 lakh. But this money is also utilised to manage the other expenses of the fest. If the government has taken the decision, then we are also supposed to support the flood relief operations as contributing every penny is important now.

‘This decision could render a lot of theatre artistes unemployed’ : Kannan Nayar, film and theatre actor

I personally think it was unwise to cancel the celebrations including the prestigious IFFK. It will adversely affect the art circles. I think this is the time to utilise the artistes for relief activities. We must organise the IFFK this year without fail; else it will convey that the havoc has weakened us to cancel an annual international event.
Can’t the annual budget of IFFK be sourced if the Malayalam film organisations join hands? We also have the acclaimed

International Theatre Festival of Kerala

(ITFoK), which every theatre artiste looks forward to. Is it not possible for KPAC Lalitha, the chairperson of

Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi

, to manage its budget of `80 lakh? I think we should ensure that these events go on by finding other means of funding.

Meanwhile, talking about theatre artistes, this decision to cancel theatre fests and youth festivals could result in suicides. Many of us have worked on theatre productions that cost `15-`20 lakh. Though the sector doesn’t make substantial revenue, these annual events have helped us survive without too much debts and liabilities. The future could be bleak with this government decision as we might not have work for a year.
I, however, do understand the gravity of the situation the floods have caused as I was also involved in the rescue and relief works. But if we miss these festivals this year now, we might pass a wrong message that they were unnecessary expense for the State.

‘Cancelling fests isn’t the way to recover from the huge economic loss’ : Hareesh N Nampoothiri, researcher and art critic

I don’t think it is wise to cancel the celebrationsfor the entire year. I think it’s unfair that the government took the decision by not even discussing it with the officials concerned or without looking for alternative methods.
Our State has suffered huge economic loss and we should find ways to overcome it through these programmes rather than axing them. What are the employees of cultural institutions like Vyloppilli Samskrithi Bhavan supposed to do for this year if we ban all activities? These institutions are also a space for small-time artistes.
If possible, we should conduct the

Nehru Trophy boat race

as the livelihood of the people in Alappuzha is linked to the tourism sector. We must restrict the use of government funds, but we can always find alternative sources of funding.

‘Youth festivals will help children overcome distress’ : Girija Chandran, state secretary, All Kerala Dance Teachers Organisation

The government should think about a way to conduct the school and college youth festivals as low-key affairs rather scraping it out completely. Let the government arrange the fest venues at various auditoriums of private schools in Thiruvananthapuram that follow the State syllabus. We can cut costs by not enlisting judges from outside the state as the All Kerala Dance Teachers Organisation is ready to arrange experienced hands who will judge the youth festivals sincerely as well as for free. Also, the government can increase the price of appeal and divert this to the CMDRF.
The State school youth festival is considered Asia’s biggest cultural event and many students who will be passing out this year have been eagerly awaiting for the competitions.
These fests also provide means of livelihood to thousands of professionals such as make-up artistes, dance teachers and others. We must focus on arranging funds from private sponsors. These fests will help eliminate the distress caused by floods among children. If we engage them in these cultural activities, they are sure to overcome their mental trauma and see life positively.

‘Relief operations should not force the unaffected into poverty’ : Pramod Payyanur, Bharat Bhavan member secretary

When the government has planned to utilise the fund for relief work, then it is also forcing those who rely on these celebrations for their livelihood to find an alternative. I believe they must make both the sections financially secure.
I welcome the government’s initiative to contribute the money for relief works. Simultaneously, the government should also ensure that those unaffected by floods are not left jobless. I think it would be wise if we arrange the respective funds by co-ordinating with several international and private cultural organisations in and around our State.