Report

Malayalam cinema has surely left Madras and Kodambakkam and travelled to Kochi and its surroundings. Kochi is full of stories, languages and narrative worlds. Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University Asst. Professor and Director of School of Film Studies Dr. Sreedevi P. Aravind evaluated the growing Malayalam cinema in Kochi at the session organised by Arts Space Kochi (ASK), Center for Urban Studies with the c-hed . The talk and discussions were intended for Urban Elective students from the SIRP, Urban Studies enthusiasts, and media persons. Urban Narratives in Malayalam Cinema with a focus on Kochi, has been Sreedevi's research domain. Kochi and cinema joined hands in the talk at Mahakavi G Cultural Centre- Marine Drive, titled: 'Significance of Kattalocal: Urban Spheres of Kochi as Regional City' on the 5th of April 2024.

Before being transplanted to Kochi, Kochi was presented as a place where characters from outside the village come in many Malayalam films and as a scary place in detective films. Movies like Maravil Thirivu Sookshikkuka (1972), Kannur Deluxe (1969), Cochin Express (1967), Lankadahanam (1971), CID Nazir, Ernakulam Junction and Taxi Car (1972) belong to that category. From there, Kochi became a major location through films like Stop Violence, Big B, Annayum Rasool, Chappakurish, Chhota Mumbai, Masala Republic, Charlie and Luca. In the next step, the nearby areas of Kochi like Angamaly, Mattancherry, Vypin and Aluva were filled in the cinema through the screen. Malayalam cinema has also managed to produce an Angamalykaran and a Kumbalangikaran, local to Katta.

The filmic representation of Kochi city reached its peak through Kammatipadam. It represented the entire aspect of the city, depicting the lives of its inhabitants culturally, historically and socially. Kammatipadam was a mini-narrative of Kochi and its surrounding areas. It is a tribute to Kochi from its historical past to the present day. Kammatipadam is a realistic treatment of Kochi's past. The old swamp of Kochi became the city of Kochi by sacrificing the agricultural land, the land of the people and the sufferings of the locals. This cinematic city is built on the site of a swamp. In Kerala, there are many films that have transplanted the story to Kochi, which of course can be told in any city. Kochi though is the first city in Kerala to realize the potential of being cinematic.