Now, Madurai gets academy for media and film studies

MADURAI: Aspirants should acquire proper knowledge on film-making and keep abreast with the ever transforming technology for a long-lasting career, said veteran Tamil actor Rajesh, during the inauguration of Madurai Media and Film Studies Academy (MMFSA) in the city on Saturday.
Affiliated to Madurai Kamaraj University, the academy will offer PG diploma course in visual communication, diploma in computer animation and short term courses like weekend courses for working professionals in photography, basic cinematography, computer animation, acting, film appreciation, drawing, painting and animation, and script writing.In addition, the academy will periodically organize seminars and workshops on topics concerning media and film studies.
In his inaugural address, Rajesh said aspirants should read up many books, including film criticism, and equip themselves with both theoretical and practical knowledge.
Renowned public speaker, Solomon Pappiah said, “Madurai has rich tradition in theatre and film industry. This academy has come up at the most appropriate place.”
A DVD on the story of American College’s English professor, J Vasanthan, titled ‘a liberal and an English teacher’ was released during the event. Vasanthan was a well-known teacher and an artist in the city, who passed away last year.
The academy founded by former American College principal, T Chinnaraj Joseph and K Anbunathan, former professor is forming a film club with an objective to give students and public an exposure to different nationalistic and cultural traditions of cinema. There will be weekly screening of cinema classics, they said.
The advisory board and visitors to the academy consists veteran film editor B Lenin, speaker Pattimandram Raja, artist Trotsky Marudu, actor Shanmugaraja, production designer T Muthuraj and director Chimbu Devan.