Indian Film Culture.P65 - federation of film societies of india

completion of the Art Theatre. He later requested Mr.
A.K.Dey to convey his compliments to Suchitra. The work
on equipping the auditorium also was a major task and this
of course was a gradual process, making progress over the
years in a phased manner. By 2000, the auditorium was
full equipped with 16 mm twin projectors, 35 mm dual
projectors, and also LCD projection system for DVD
screenings, with a seating capacity of 150.
My association with FFSI
Earlier to 1970, the affairs of the film societies in south
came under the purview of the South-West Zone, with its
headquarters at Bombay. In 1970 a separate zone was
formed and the first committee consisted of Mrs. Ammu
Swaminathan as Vice-President, S.Krishnaswamy as
Jt.Secretary, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, as Liaison Secretary,
and S.V.Venkataraman as treasurer. This was the first committee
that was nominated by the Central Office. The formation
of a new zone for south was necessitated because
of the rapid growth in activities and also because of the
increase in the number of societies that came up.
This development was sudden, and the formation of a new
Zone, instead of easing the situation created a big vacuum.
The Bombay office felt relieved of its responsibility on the
excuse that a separate zone was formed for South. Unfortunately,
the nominated committee never took initiative to
meet for lack of much needed coordination and funds. The
two Secretaries lived geographically far away from each
other. The office was expected to function from Joint
Secretary’s office, but all letters addressed to his office remained
unanswered. The entire activity came to a standstill.
There was no circulation films, no affiliations, and
nothing happened for more than six months. Many new
film societies formed in the south waited for FFSI affiliations.
Suchitra Film Society, Bangalore founded in 1971,
was one of the many who were waiting for affiliation and
guidance from FFSI.
It was at this point of time that I as the founder secretary of
Suchitra Film Society took the initiative to visit Madras,
meet the Vice-President and request her for immediate action.
It was found that the Joint. Secretary was at that time
extremely busy with his profession as filmmaker and he
could not spare time for this activity. Frequent visits by
me to Madras ultimately yielded results when A.K.Dey,
Secretary, FFSI central office, took the action to appoint
Mrs. Rajammal Anantharaman as the Asst Secretary of the
FFSI South and the office was established in her residence.
In spite of her age and fragile health, Rajammal
Anantharaman took the responsibility to establish the FFSI
office in South. I also took initiative to suggest holding of
a conference of all the Film Societies in South. Mrs.
August 2010 / Indian Film Culture 50
Anantharaman took immediate step to hold the conference
in Madras in 1974 and this was a historical meeting that
established a firm footing for the FFSI in South.
t was at this conference that the most committed film society
activists such as H.N.Narahari Rao, A.V.Rajagopal,
K.S.Govindaraj, S.V.Venkataraman, ISK. Devarayalu,
M.Philip and many others from different parts of South
India formed a nucleus which laid the foundation for the
growth of the movement in South India. It must be recorded
here that the credit for this healthy development should go
to Mrs. Anantharaman. Mention should be made here of
the role played by the Madras Film Society, in offering the
services of D.Srinivasan to assist Mrs. Anantharaman in
her FFSI Work. The federation really started working in
the south and flow of films started reaching the societies.
Subsequently the FFSI hired its own premises and started
functioning actively. I continued to serve the FFSI as its
R.C.Member till 1992 and then retired in favour of youngsters.
However it was again in 2000 when the FFSI south faced a
crisis, I was again invited to associate with the FFSI and
since then I have served as its Vice President till now (2010).
During the last forty years of my association with this activity,
I have served as founder secretary of Suchitra Film
Society for 25 years and then as its president till 2000, and
24 years in FFSI as RC member and as the Vice President.
I gained lot of experience in the movement and I have enjoyed
seeing the great films of the world and I have discharged
all my responsibilities entrusted to me including
publication of books such as: My Days with Film Society
Movement, Glimpses of Kannada cinema, The Most
Memorable films of the World from the Diaries of the
Film Societies, and the latest one: The Film Society Movement
in India.
Presently I am engaged in writing a World film directory
giving details of 1000 films recommended for films societies
and also in establishing a library of over 1000 DVDs
for study purpose for film society activists.
It is here, at this crucial point of time that we, particularly
FFSI should review its strategy to meet the fast changing
scenario. If we become complacent and do not rise to the
occasion then we may suffer a serious debacle. Here are
my humble suggestions.
1. The FFSI should make a comprehensive list of films,
(at least 1000) of the world that are worth screening by the
film societies. We should be able to give some details of
these films. It is a welcome proposal to put it on the website.
For the benefit of those who do not have access of Internet
we can get it printed also. (Conti..on pg 52 )