Tony Tharakan
When filmmaker Albert arrived for the 36th International Film Festival of India, he was amazed to find not a single poster of his Malayalam film 'Kanne Madanguka' had been put up at the venue. Although discouraged by the apparent mismanagement, the enterprising director decided to take matters into his own hands.
"I began putting up my film's poster when anotherman arrived and asked me to put up a poster. I had toexplain to him that I am a filmmaker, not a posterboy," recalls Albert. Despite the lack of publicity, 'Kanne Madanguka'opened to a full house at IFFI 2005, forcing thefirst-time director to tone down his criticism of theorganisers.
"It's no big deal. I have done similar things formy film even in Kerala. The film is my child and Ihave no complaints," the filmmaker, who uses only hisfirst name, said. The low-budget 'Kanne Madanguka' was shot in 15days and features newcomers in every sense of the word- with the director, scriptwriter and actors makingtheir debut with the film.
Inspired by a true story, the film narrates thedark tale of a ruthless society forcing girls to earntheir living through prostitution. The success of the film in the Indian Panorama section here has reinforced Albert's belief in himselfand he now plans to re-release it in Kerala.
"It was not marketed properly the first timearound and we think the film now has a better chancewith added publicity," he said. Next up for the Malayali director is ahard-hitting film which tries to analyse the reasonsfor the growing number of divorces and suicides inGod's own country.
"We boast of cent per cent literacy in Kerala. Atthe same time, we have the highest rate of divorcesand suicides. My new film will delve into reasons forthis," Albert said.
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