It is that time of the year again when Thiruvananthapuram looks, feels and even smells different, thanks to the 10,000 odd film lovers who flock to the city to be part of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). They belong to different age groups, mileus and regions; but are bound by the passion for cinema.
The ongoing 22nd edition of IFFK is no different. Though muted down by the cyclone Okchi which hit the shores of the capital city recently, the film festival has touched the otherwise peaceful days and nights of the city.
One gets to see the IFFK delegates breaking into impromptu dance and musical performances, much to the surprise and at times shock of the passers by. Old and young dance together, boys and girls dance together; something rarely seen in the rigid social space of Kerala.
“It is as if we are living a different life during this one week. Or rather I would say we are leading our dream life in these few days,'' said Darshana S., a second time delegate who has come all the way from Palakkad to be part of the IFFK.
Black is the colour of IFFK. Most of the delegates, especially younger ones, wear black as an act of vengeance.
“We started wearing black as an act of rebellion after black shirts were banned in a few college campuses following the success of film Premam. Now it has become like a dress code,'' said Dileesh Nahid, a regular at IFFK.
But there are more compelling practical reasons for many others to wear black.
“If its black, then you don't need to wash it. I manage my entire IFFK days with just two pair of black Ts,'' said Rajesh T.R., in a matter of fact way. Many of his team mates were seen nodding their heads in agreement.
It is no surprise then that many autowallas, plying exclusively for IFFK delegates, complain about a “weird smell”. “It seems these guys don't wash for the whole week,'' complained T.K. Raghu, a native of Thiruvannathapuram who has been on IFFK duty for the third time.
Apart from the black T and dhoti dress code, multi-coloured turban is a new addition this time. Both guys and girls were seen wearing them, inviting many a curious glances as they step out of Tagore Theatre, the main venue of IFFK.
In fact, the Tagore theatre premises look more like a college campus with delegates, mostly younger ones, prefer to sit in the tree shades than watch movies. They sit in gangs and sing and dance till midnight.
“It is such a welcome change to see young boys and girls sitting and chatting together till midnight. It is something you rarely see in a place like Thiruvavnthapuram which sticks to its old world moral codes strictly'' said Bindu Madhavi, a native of Thiruvannathapuram.
Participants of the 22nd edition of IFFK in Thiruvananthapuram | Rinkuraj Mattancheriyil
But not all are enthused.
“These boys and girls, mostly drunk, create scenes and bring bad names to the delegates. Our parents are worried when they see pictures of drunkards. They think all are like them,'' said a female delegate from Kochi who did not want to be named.
Serious cinephiles too have complaints against these youngsters who come for IFFK more to celebrate than watch movies.
“I know many delegates who have not watched a single movie yet. They come here just to have a helluva time in the name of IFFK. This happens while many serious film lovers fail to get a pass,'' complained Venkiteswaran R., a regular at IFFK.
But the majority prefer to see these celebrations as part of IFFK.
“Only here in IFFK you get to see this environment. The passion for cinema you get to see here is not there in any of the film festivals I have gone,'' said John Dais, who is coming straight from the IFFI, Goa. Dais, who is on his way to Bangalore film festival, vouches that it is this crowd who has no issues to wait for hours in the sun to watch the movies that bring him to IFFK every year.
“Also, where else will you get to rub shoulders great directors like Adoor Gopalkrishnan and Alexander Sokurov,'' he added.
This passion for cinema had vowed many foreign film personalities, including Korean film maker Kim Ki Duk who was mobbed when had flown down. “It seems I have more fans in Kerala than anywhere else,'' he was quoted saying.
The manner in which IFFK is organised every year has also impressed serious delegates.
“Nowhere else you will get to this standard of film curation. You can see that there is serious thought going into it,'' said V. Shankar, who makes it a point to attend all major film festivals both in India and abroad.
Controversies have also been an integral part of IFFK, and this year was no different. Sanal Kumar Sashidharan of XXX Durga fame had organised a parallel film festival to protest the exclusion of his film from the IFFK. But it could not take away the sheen of IFFK.
The IFFK will come to an end this Friday, putting an end to the week-long revelry of passion. As there is only one more day left before the curtains come down, the mood has already started to set in.
“After this one week, we feel so much at loss as we go back to the routine life,'' said Pratheek S., who is attending IFFK for the third time.
His friends nodded in agreement. Barely a minute after the silence, one of the friends said, “But there is always the next edition of IFFK .''
And the gang hurrayed. The IFFK dreams live on...
