Films by women directors at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale

The Kochi Muziris Biennale 2016 will host a screening and discussions on films by women director in the coming week. Split into three debut directorial features and two documentaries, the package will be shown as part of the Biennale Foundation's 'Artists' Cinema' programme. It will run from February 9-12, with shows starting at 6.30 pm at the Pavilion in Cabral Yard.Films by Manjadikkuru by Anjali Menon and Panthibhojanam by Sreebala K menon will be among the package, which will start with Leena Yadav's Parched (2015).
The documentaries are Beyond the Wheel (2005) ' a nuanced look at activities, crafts and spaces traditionally barred to women, such as the titular potter's wheel ' by Rajula Shah and Madhusree Dutta's musical documentary on the 12th century saint-poet Mahadevi Akka, Scribbles on Akka (2000).
The package will be specially curated by award-winning film editor Bina Paul who will examine behind-the-camera work by women in film industries across the country in both the historical and contemporary contexts.
The critically acclaimed feature Parched will open an upcoming cinema and discussion package comprising works by women directors that will play out on the sidelines of the ongoing third edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB).
'I believe that women tell stories differently ' shaped by both psychological make-up and social conditioning. Many women baulk at being pigeonholed as 'women filmmakers'. I think what is different in works by women is how the narratives vary. Unfortunately, this uniqueness is very under-represented in Indian Cinema,' Paul said.
The discussion will be facilitated by a Q&A session with Paul and Leena Yadav following the screening of Parched on Thursday.