Poet and lyricist Rafeeq Ahamed on Sunday (July 19, 2026) expressed concern over the declining space for politically and socially engaging cinema, saying films rooted in meaningful narratives were increasingly being replaced by those glorifying crime and violence.
Inaugurating the celebrations marking the 100th screening of Kolazhy Cinema Kottaka, a film society functioning under the Kolazhy Grameena Vayanasala, at the Kerala Sahitya Akademi hall, Mr. Ahamed said cinema had gradually been reduced to a form of entertainment, particularly in multiplexes, with little lasting emotional or intellectual impact on audiences.
“One wonders whether watching many of today’s films offers any real human or aesthetic fulfilment. Earlier films, many of them adapted from great literary works, carried a distinct political vision. Revisiting them today opens up new dimensions of thought. In contrast, despite their technical brilliance, many contemporary films leave the audience with nothing to reflect upon once they step out of the theatre,” he said.
‘Deeply humanistic initiative’
Delivering the keynote address on the theme ‘Cinema and Humanity’, film scholar K.P.N. Amritha described the very idea of Cinema Kottaka as a deeply humanistic initiative.
Ms. Amritha said cinema, though a product of scientific and technological advancement, remained one of the most powerful art forms for nurturing human values. Truly humanistic films, she observed, were those capable of transforming local stories and concerns into universal conversations.
Films that meaningfully engage with caste discrimination, inequality, fractured human relationships and political struggles enrich society by provoking critical thought and empathy, she said, citing the works of several internationally acclaimed filmmakers.
C. Balachandran, vice-president of the library, presided over the function. The event concluded with the screening of the Spanish film Calle Málaga with Malayalam subtitles.
Earlier in the day, filmmaker Nandalal led a workshop for selected participants on the preparation of Malayalam subtitles for films.
Published – July 19, 2026 08:29 pm IST
