'Thamizhanda' gets 100% placement in Madras Institute of Technology

I should say that the conclusion of the pro-Jallikattu protests carried out by the youth of the State has not only ended up with the lifting of the ban on the sport but also seems to have opened the space for a wide range of Tamil patriotism. Be it the negligence of multinational brands and boycott of many anti-agriculture products like bottled carbonated beverages, the idea of Tamil patriotism has started to spread as a forest fire which I have been witnessing in a number of instances in the past couple of weeks.

One of the latest instances is the complete changeover in the theme and progress of Madras Institute of Technology's (MIT's) annual inter-collegiate cultural festival, MITAFEST (23 February to 26 February 2017), from a totally western theme to a raw Tamil theme.

The theme of the 45th edition of MITAFEST till last fortnight was 'Halloween'. But not any more. It is now changed to 'Thamizhanda'.

'CIFF screening, a recognition for a frustrated director', says Uriyadi maker

When a generation-X director handles crucial and sensational subjects in his work, it will always drag in huge critical and ideological crowd into the screens when filmed. But, for Vijay Kumar, who had made his debut flick 'Uriyadi' based on communalism in and around rural parts of Tiruchy district, it is one level up as his movie that was screened in Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF) on January 9, 2017.

The movie could rope in audience from international entities. Several Russians, Europeans and Far East Asians watched Uriyadi in CIFF that was screened at the Russian Cultural Center in the city. Having dealt with a very crucial subject, a social issue in his first attempt, Vijay Kumar interacted with some of the spectators including me, in much of light headed attitude and in a cool way after the screening of his film.

His interaction was full of failures, disappointments and the challenges he had faced before releasing Uriyadi. Here are some of the excerpts of that interaction.

Organiser less protest ; a well organised protest for saving the bull embracing sport

It was an organiser-less protest, yet it turned out to be the most well-organised stir of all time. This was what came to mind when I witnessed the mass protests being organised in public places in Chennai for lifting the ban on Jallikattu, Tamil culture's own bull embracing sport.

Bairavaa questions quality of private colleges and their sub-standard managements

Bairavaa (U):

Viewer's Note:

Not a much convincing work nor a worst one too. I should say that Barathan again failed to utilise the 'Vijay Quotient' for the second time. However Vijay tries to carry the movie throughout and Keerthy Suresh as well. Let me not get into the commercial aspect of Bairavaa and this is completely an ideology based viewer's note.

Feminism: The Long Spoken Ideology Of Women-Freedom in World Movies

Its usually an ideology that runs as the central chord of a film and adds strength to the script. Across the globe, several modern ideologies and thoughts have been delivered to the spectators. When it comes to an international film festival like Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF) the movies screened would be still better ones with stronger ideologies. At this juncture Feminism is no exception.

Tamil flavours occupy foreign movies in Chennai International Film Festival

I should say that the 14th Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF) is that one event that could let people understand that art is beyond boundaries.  Despite the country, language, culture and the race from where they have their origin, the foreign movies screened in CIFF  have lots of instances that Tamil audiences can relate to.

Greek movie Ouzeri Tsitsanis (A Cloudy Sunday) directed by Manousos Manousakis spoke in length about the kind of relationship a Christian man had with his Jewish love lady. The movie is set in the backdrop of World War II in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece. During this time, Nazi occupation was rigorous in the country and Jews were evacuated from the country. In this movie, two plots run side-by-side, a poetic love story and life of the musician Vasilis Tsitsanis.