When Ghosts Come Calling | Re-projecting the Disappeared Muses of Malayalam films

[ Co-authored by Darshana Sreedhar and Vinu Abraham, this originally appeared in the Sarai Reader No 9: Projections. Darshana Sreedhar is a PhD scholar at the School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Her work focuses on the history of Malayalam cinema. Vinu Abraham, journalist, novelist and scenarist, is better known for his novel  Nashtanayika, the fictionlised biography of PK Rosy, which formed the basis for Kamal’s Celluloid (2013 ). ]

Sen Joseph shares the synopsis of “The Pioneer”, his upcoming book on JC Daniel.

{ Sen Joseph shares the synopsis of his upcoming e-book, “The Pioneer” on JC Daniel, alongwith a general introduction and overview of the perspectives and historical annotations being discussed in the book. The final distribution format of the book is yet to be finalized. Also, please note that the views expressed here in the synopsis are those of the author alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the general content nature of this blog, per se. }

The Songs of PB Srinivas | Those that you may have missed

Pix Credit & Rights : The Hindu

{ This is a guest post by Harikrishnan Nair, as an addendum to Susie’s tribute to PB Srinivas’ songs, as he felt he had to place on record his favorites amongst them some which might have not have been got the due recognition it deserved. “A silent lover of this blog”, he mailed this across as a slightly extended response to Susie’s post, but I felt it needed a place of its own in here. – cinematters }

Sarvakalashala (1987 ) | In the Mood for Melancholy

[ This is a guest post by Prakash Rajan, from Bangalore India, now residing in New Jersey, USA. Prakash is an inveterate cinephile and an 80’s -era Malayalam films junkie.”I love Sathyan Anthikad, Satajit Ray and Stanley Kubrick“, says Prakash. Touch base with Prakash here.]

‘Sarvakalshala’ is quintessential Venu Nagavalli. Why? This is because, like the man himself, the film is philosophical and brooding. There is a pervading sense of melancholy in the movie, just like our man who is known for his pensive image. However, there is more to Venu Nagavalli than what meets the eye.

Guest Post | Is The Guild System Returning Through Malayalam Cinema?

Cinematters’ note: This Guest post is by  P.S.Remesh Chandran, Editor, Sahyadri Books & Bloom Books, Trivandrum. Remesh Chandran blogs at  SAHYADRI BOOKS  and you can mail him at sahyadribooksremesh@gmail.com.

In the middle ages, an experienced and specialized worker could work and make his living only if he joined the respective Guild. Painting, drawing, sculpting, moulding, gold-working, all were controlled by the respective guilds. The guild master or the foreman of that particular guild would be the omnipotent in that particular field of human activity. Plumbers, painters, artists, brick-builders, kiln-workers, goat-herders all had their own guilds. The powers of these guilds were such that they controlled the respective industry, enterprise or establishment as the case may be. The guild master and foreman could do with or do without any worker. People and their families lost their lives or living, according to the whims and fancies of these guild masters.