Cinema of change

Satyajit Ray, Francois Truffaut, Girish Kasaravalli, Film Noir, Iranian documentaries and more Bengaluru is a haven for those wanting to explore cinema beyond the multiplexes. Whether one is looking for international film festivals or intimate rooftop screenings, the city's many film societies have it all. Besides bringing us the best in the world of cinema, they offer film buffs both new and seasoned, the opportunity to interact with one another.
The city's oldest existing film society is of course the Suchitra Film Society (SFS), which started in 1971 as a forum for screening films that were not available commercially.“While the society is old, we constantly explore new ideas to engage wider audience,“ PV Murali, Jt.Secretary of Suchitra Film Society says.
REBELLIOUS LIAISON
But it's the smaller film screening groups in Bengaluru that are actually leading the way to make alternate cinema accessible in every neighbourhood. “We like to screen cinema of artistic value but true art also transforms people and society,“ says Sunanda Bhat, one of the founders of Vikalp Bengaluru. Started by a group of 5 filmmakers in 2004, Vikalp's agenda is to revive the screening of the best documentary filmmaking from India and across the globe and to cultivate a strong, vibrant community of documentary enthusiasts in the city.
The group today has found an ideal home in Everest Talkies, Frazer Town, all thanks to the zeal of its young owner Yogi Kshatriya. Vikalp screens documentaries touching various social issues every Thursday at Everest Talkies, and “we manage to get at least 150 people for each screenings.“ The group has screened various controversial and socially relevant films such as Gulabi Gang and the banned movie Muzzafnagar Abhi Baaki Hai on Muzzafnagar riots. Vikalp also shares previews of the documentaries before screening, on social media, to increase audience participation.
On the same lines, a conscious political stand is what Pedestrian Pictures or PedPics strives for. PedPics, started in 2001 by filmmaker Deepu, is a media-activist organization. The group screens a documentary once every month at St Joseph's college and likes to engage audience in topics ranging from women's rights to Dalit issues or communalism. The monthly screenings are free of charge and open to all. PedPics was also one of the film societies that chose to break the protocol and screen a movie that was refused a censor certificate ­ Muzzafarnagar Abhi Baaki Hai. “When it was banned, the news was circulated all over through social media. There were around 12 screenings in Bengaluru alone,“ Deepu says.
The significance of such a rebellious movement is palpitating. “The feeling to have protested against something which is right is a great feeling. Movements like this are required to jerk up the audience out of reverie, and films are a very powerful medium to do that,“ Bhat says. Besides screenings PedPics also makes films and publishes booklets on various issues.
LIGHTING A CANDLE
There also exist in Bengaluru several smaller, intimate groups that offer serious and sometimes unusual cinema without the formality of film societies. A local filmmaker showcases his work at a Bangalore Roof Top Film Festival screenings. Started in 2006, BRTFF is not a conventional film festival but, a platform for volunteer filmmakers to organize and host screenings of their own movies, on the rooftop of whoever is willing to lend it. The screenings are an allnight affair. “We get together and someone brings a projector, someone else might bring speakers or provide us the rooftop. Everyone pitches in,“ says Raghunandan Kandka, one of the founders. The screenings are open to all, and don't worry about food, because all the volunteers are mandated to get something to eat for at least two people, because “What are movies without some food,“ Kandka quips.
The context is indeed crucial to understanding the groups. Suchitra might be ideal for those looking for a somewhat structured take on cinema. The society even organ ises film appreciation workshops to this end. Bangalore Film Society is a great place for those interested in exploring theme-based films and documentaries that discuss key issues without getting too uncomfortable.But if one is willing to be challenged, a Pedestrian Pictures and an all-night BRTFF screenings are worth a watch.
The choice of films is another reason to watch out for small groups.The films PedPics and BRTFF curate are often “very dark, weird and downright grotesque,“ quite different from the standard world cinema fare. BRTFF screens critically acclaimed movies but also provides a platform for local talent.
Two years old Khula Manch, a film screening society formed by three friends Priyanka Varma, Sushil Katre and Mayank Rungta, insists that a platform where documentaries and short stories can be accessed is crucial to the social milieu of a city. “It is important to discuss and contemplate on important issues. It makes us more aware and sensitive,“ says Sushil Katre, one of the founders. Khula Manch screens documentaries every Tuesday at Cobalt, every Thursday at Suchitra and once a month at Jagriti. The group also weaves in group discussions and film appreciation talks with its screenings. Khula Manch explores diverse issues through its movie screenings such as sex and gender, disability and politics.
RIGHTS ISSUE
While most film societies stress on the `open to all' aspect of their groups there is one that stresses on its exclusiveness. Good As You (GAY), an informal support group for Bangalore's LGBT population screens `queer' films on a regular basis. The screenings usually take place in the office of Swabhava, an NGO founded and run by Vinay Chandran. The group meets every Thursday to discuss and share issues, and on every Saturday to watch films, which are a combination of short films, documentaries and feature films. And contrary to popular assumptions the films are not always serious.
— Durba Ghosh