Coimbatore, Nov. 7: All that K. Kalai Amuthan from Mettupalayam wanted to do was to become a film-maker. Hailing from a family of meagre means, his father could not send him to a private college to study visual communication, a course his heart desired.
But this did not deter him from dreaming big and hoping. Now a third-year student of Political Science in Government Arts College, Coimbatore, Kalai has turned director with a 27-minute short film “Thisaigal 4”.
There were many who helped his dream become a reality. The first and foremost in this journey was P. Kanagaraj, Head, Department of Political Science, Government Arts College, and Chief Mentor of the Higher Studies Centre that offers free coaching for civil services, but popularly known as the “Free IAS Exam Coach”.
“When he spoke to me about his interest in films, I realised that it was equally important to create opportunities for those who are creatively inclined and not interested in pursuing academics. So I told him that it was not enough to have mere interest but must show some evidence of work that reflected that interest. I encouraged him to make a short film and promised to sponsor it too,” says the HoD.
Kalai had already put together a small group of like-minded students who were willing to be part of the short-film. It took him two days to write a script. He chose to focus on the extended use of the Internet and its ill-effects. Dharma, a visual communication student from a private college not only agreed to spare his camera and other equipment, but also become the cameraman.
Next time when Kalai met his HoD it was to tell him that things were all set. The team consisting of M. Sarathkumar and M. Marimuthu, both second year Political Science students, S. Vignesh, S. Satish, S. Gowtham, and Priyanka, all undergraduate Political Science students turned actors under the tutelage of cameraman Dharma and director Kalai Amuthan.
The team wanted to make the film on a shoe-string budget and the rough estimate came to Rs. 18,000. Prof. Kanagaraj sponsored the film and it was shot in the college. It was released by District Collector T.N. Hariharan on November 3.
Following this experience, Prof. Kanagaraj has decided to encourage students who are interested in cinema to produce a short film every semester. “There are several film directors and actors who visit the IAS study centre to talk to the students. It will be a great opportunity to show them these films to assess the potential of the director and actors, which will help them get a foothold in the industry,” says Dr. Kanagaraj.
He hopes to get sponsors to support the different groups of students, who will make a film every semester, which he believes will open a gateway of opportunity for them.