The Art of Appreciation

Most of us look at films as a vehicle of entertainment at best,or as a form of escapism at worst.

Most of us look at films as a vehicle of entertainment at best,or as a form of escapism at worst. But there are those who take them very seriously,so much so that they decipher it,unravel it and try to understand the mind of the filmmakers themselves. Catering to such a fraternity,the Rasaswaad Cinemacha,a three-day film-appreciation course designed to unravel the intricacies of cinema,came to Pune for its eighth edition at the National Film Archives of India (NFAI),Pune on Saturday.

Organised by the Federation of Film Societies of India (FFSI),Maharashtra Chapter,in association with the V Shantaram Foundation,Mumbai,the three-day “course” looks at the history of cinema,discussions with experts and film directors and attempts to analyse the various aspects of films through short films and feature films screened at the event. Held each year in Marathi,this course,according to the organisers,is the compact version of the 40-year-old film appreciation module held every year by the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in association with the NFAI.

“Everybody watches the movie,but can everyone truly appreciate it,” seems to be the underlying theme behind the popular course. This year,the event has gathered around 70 film enthusiasts,including filmmakers,technicians and students,from across Maharashtra. Anil Zankar,noted film scholar,who has been associated with the course since its conception.

“We all watch cricket matches. We all understand when a batsman gets out and when he hits a six. So why do we need a commentary,” he challenges. Pausing a moment to produce the appropriate effect,”We need it to find deeper meaning into it,to enhance our experience,” says Zankar. Zankar,a filmmaker and a former student of the FTII,has authored several books that revolve around Indian films and the industry.

The course will screen and analyse over 20 short films and 10 feature films over the period of three days. Milind Damle,head of the editing department,TV wing,at the FTII,gave a discourse on the topic sankalanachi kimaya or the ‘magic of editing’ this year. “It is very important to understand the effort that goes inside the average two-and-a-half hour film. What scenes to keep and which ones to cut out is the very thing that can make or break a film,” says Damle,a former student of the FTII,who had won the National Award for the best short film on social issue for his film Dwijaa in 2005.

But shouldn’t any art form,films included,be instantly accessible to the public? “Of course,” says Damle,impatiently,”The endevour is to study and understand why something becomes popular and why some other thing doesn’t.”

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