Final-Film Festival-13-11-08.p65 - Directorate of Film Festivals

films have been shown in Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto,Rotterdam, London, and every important festival around theworld. Adoor's third feature, Elippathayam won him the covetedBritish Film Institute Award for the most original and imaginativefilm of 1982. The International Film Critics Prize (FIPRESCI)has gone to him six times successively for Mukhamukham,Anantaram, Mathilukal, Vidheyan, Kathapurushan andNizhalkkuthu.In the year 2004 the French Government conferred on himthe title of The Commander of the Order of Arts and Lettersrecognizing his contribution to cinema. Following it, the Indiannation presented him the Dada Phalke Award, the highestrecognition for life-time achievement in Cinema. The next yearhe was given the country's top civilian award of the title ofPadma vibhushan. The same year, the Mahatma GandhiUniversity conferred on him the honorary degree of D.Litt.His collection of essays, The World of Cinema was given thenational award for the Best book on Cinema in 1984.The French Cinematheque in Paris, Film Society of LincolnCentre New York, and The Smithsonian Institution in Washingtonamong others have honored him by holding full retrospectivesof his work.His feature films all in Malayalam are: Swayamvaram - One'sown Choice(1972), Kodiyettam - Ascent (1977), Elippathayam-Rat -trap(1981), Mukhamukham- Face to Face(1984), Anantaram-Monologue(1987), Mathilukal- Walls(1990) Vidheyan - TheServile(1993) Kathapurushan -Man of the Story(1995),Nizhalkkuthu - Shadow Kill (2002) and Naalu Pennungal - FourWomen (2007).His eleventh film, 'A woman, two men' which is underproduction now is expected to be completed by January nextyear.DIRECTOR'S STATEMENTThere is a real base for the story of the young dancer in thedocumentary. In very many cases, however good a dancer shebe, marriage would spell the end of her career. In the film thereare parallel streams to the young girl's story. One important oneis her teacher's. She is a single parent who is followed throughher daily chores and the pursuit of her profession- teachingMohiniyattam. The teacher's is a down-to-earth story whereasthe girl's is a very romantic, trip which is difficult to be termeddream or real.Stage performances of accomplished artistes are there tounderscore and intensify the young dancers bhava - the feelings.At the very basic level the film had to look beautiful.The choice of the locales was made on the basis of its patronsin the past as well as the present. Aristocratic families, temples,and Palaces were the natural settings. The concert halls representthe present. While it has its roots in the folk arts, the nourishmentalways came from the classical traditions. In its present evolvedform, Mohiniyattam is a very sophisticated dance form.100 101