Tulu films need to be archived: Jayamala

On May 15, Tulu cinema will witness a momentous event. A short film (it sticks to the original title) based on the 1974 film Bayya Mallige will be released at the Town Hall. Based on a successful play, Bayya Mallige was a superhit even forty-two years ago and starred leading names of that era including Jayamala and Pandari Bai. MT spoke to Jayamala, veteran actor, former president of the film chamber and MLC on the occasion.
Losing precious content Jayamala who began her career with Tulu movies rues that valuable content including old Tulu films are nothing but a memory. 'Either the negatives have melted or the content is missing. Whatever be the case, it's a loss for the industry,' she says. 'I have acted in four Tulu movies and I don't think they are available in their original form today. Acclaimed films like Kaasdaye Kandani are still reminisced by lovers of Tulu cinema, but its negatives, too are lost with the passage of time,' she states.
Fight for the conservation of our language Tulu is a niche language and preserving films is the only way to conserve and showcase our culture. 'Regional films have to any way fight hard to get noticed and people fail to understand that they are the true representatives of the culture and ethos of a land,' she points out. The national film archives in Pune is the only place which has been working towards protecting and preserving our films, so at least the Tulu films that have won the National Awards have made their way to the its library, adds Jayamala.
Happy that some sort of movement has begun in Tulu cinema While she does concede that the Tulu industry needs to be more proactive in conserving its work, especially from the bygone days, the actor is happy that a film like Bayya Mallige is being made into a short film. 'I'm glad people are coming forward with such innovative initiatives to preserve the golden works of Tulu cinema. It is definitely a matter of great pride. Besides, the industry is growing at a healthy rate with more youngsters coming in and I shall always be there to support them. I'm constantly rooting for my mother tongue because I want Tulu movies to also get subsidy and all other perks that are accorded to Kannada films,' she sums up.