P Sheshadri, award-winning Kannada filmmaker, on Monday said India is the largest producer of films in the world and over 2,500-3,000 films were made annually.
In Karnataka alone, over 200 films were produced in a year.
While making a film was not a “big thing”, making good and creative cinema with a strong message was important as they help create good audiences, he said.
Speaking after inaugurating Film Appreciation Course being conducted jointly by the National Film Archive of India, Pune; Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, Bengaluru; University of Mysore, Mysuru, and the Department of Information and Public Relations, Bengaluru, he said cinema had grown into a most powerful medium.
He felt that Kannada films should not be restricted only to the people of Karnataka and was eligible gain national and international popularity.
Due to the lack of audiences, Kannada films had not gained popular on expected lines. But in the recent years, a bunch of young directors and producers had been making creative films, he said.
Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy Chairman S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu said the academy had introduced the film appreciation course for the first time, and short-term, diploma and graduate courses on filmmaking would be introduced in University of Mysore. Talks are on with the university about starting the courses, he added.
University of Mysore Vice-chancellor K.S. Rangappa presided and National Film Archive of India Director Prakash Magdum were present on the occasion.
Film classics, short films and non-fiction films – both Indian and international – will be screened and used for critical analysis and study.
Course details
For better understanding of cinema, it is necessary that one should have knowledge of history of cinema such as its genesis, evolution and the basics of filmmaking.
The course has been designed to promote comprehensive understanding and insights into the nature of cinema and other related forms and practices, according to the course organisers.
The course is primarily designed to meet the needs of mass communication students, prospective filmmakers, teachers/scholars interested in introducing film study activities in educational institutions, media practitioners, film society organisers, researchers, government officials handling films.
The curriculum includes theoretical study of the art and history of film and the development of cinema as a medium of art and communication. The course also touches upon the process of digital technology. The participants will be introduced to the changing nature of film production and its evolving relationship with digital arts.
‘India is the world’s largest producer of films’
‘Of late, young directors are making good films’
Film Appreciation Course at Chalanachitra Academy has been designed to promote comprehensive understanding and insight into the nature of cinema
