PANAJI: At the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), the diversity of Indian cinema was on full display, with a Tamil short film, a Hindi documentary, and a Kannada feature film receiving accolades during a joint press conference. The Indian Panorama segment featured Sivantha Mann, a Tamil-language non-feature film, the Hindi documentary Main Nida, and the Kannada film Kerebete, all of which were screened and appreciated by the audience.
Sivantha Mann
'Sivantha Mann' is a Tamil-language short film based on a true incident in southern Tamil Nadu, where a village faces the decline of its farming traditions. The story follows Ranjitham, a poor mother who works as a farm labourer alongside two other women while struggling to fund her daughter's education. The film highlights the prevalent feudal mentality in rural India and centers on the injustices faced by women, specifically when an overseer, driven by personal vendettas, withholds wages from Ranjitham’s co-worker, Sevuthi.
Director Infant spoke to the media about his intention behind the film, saying, "Society still aims to suppress the voices of women." He hopes that Ranjitham’s character will inspire women to stand up for their rights. The film’s Director of Photography, Easwaren Karthikeyan, and other crew members were also present at the press conference.
Main Nida
In the Hindi documentary Main Nida, director Atul Pandey sought to bring the life and work of the renowned poet, philosopher, and humanist Nida Fazli to the screen. Despite knowing five languages, Fazli's genius went largely unrecognized during his lifetime. The film serves as an audio-visual biography that celebrates his legacy. Pandey, who was inspired by Fazli’s simplicity and wisdom, said, "While certain poets and artistes are promoted by the entertainment industry, others are overlooked."
Producer Atul Gangwar, who had collaborated with Fazli for over two decades, shared that the documentary is based on 210 hours of footage, which was painstakingly edited down to a final cut of 59 minutes. Malti Joshi Fazli, Nida Fazli's wife, spoke about his philosophy, quoting him: "Keep religion aside, win over life through struggle."
Kerebete
Kerebete, a Kannada feature film directed by Rajguru B., is set in the Malnad region of Shimoga district and revolves around an annual fishing event with deep cultural roots. The story follows Naga, a fish hunter, who dreams of buying land for his family and future, alongside his mother and love interest Meena. Lead actor and producer Gowrishankar S. R., who portrays Naga, spoke about how the fight sequences in the film were designed to be realistic, reflecting the gritty nature of the characters’ lives.
Director Rajguru highlighted the film's thematic connection to the Indian epic Ramayana, noting that local folklore-based stories resonate with audiences everywhere. He cited the success of films like Kantara as proof of the widespread appeal of such narratives.
The films received critical acclaim and marked a successful showcase of regional storytelling at IFFI, celebrating both cultural heritage and contemporary issues.
