While mainstream cinema commands a dedicated audience that often makes a beeline to the nearest
multiplex every weekend, many others are tired of going to watch movies that
involve pricey tickets and popcorn, and the overall mundane experience.
Watching commercial movies – the next one more predictable than the last one
watched, can be an experience far from entertaining. Perhaps for this reason,
Goa, in the recent past, has seen a surge in the number of movie buffs for whom
the independent cinema selection on online portals is way too limited. And,
there’s good news as there are a few venues in the state that are catering to
the tastes of those looking for offbeat films to watch, or are offering
commercial cinema in a different and much more intimate setting.
For the last few years, Sunaparanta ‘Film for Thought’ Club has
been showing films that provoke a discussion or leave the audience with
something to ponder over. Arvind Sivakumaran, who facilitates the club, shows
films from all over the world, though the club tends to screen more English and
classic Hollywood films of pre 1960 whilst varying it a bit with foreign films.
The films are screened every Wednesday in the scenic setting of the open-air
amphitheatre at Sunaparanta Centre for the Arts in Altinho. According to the
club, the response has been good with a dedicated audience showing up every
week, along with a few new faces that walk in.
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Arvind says, “Goa has a very serious film-watching culture, in
my opinion. Between Sunaparanta and the other clubs that screen films,
something really cool is happening. I think the audiences are very open-minded
and intelligent and make the effort to attend screenings; some come from really
far. Engaging with these audiences is quite invigorating. What also helps is
each of the clubs shows very different films, so between all the venues, the
people get a wide variety of choices.”
Situated in Sangolda, Saraya Eco Resort has been hosting Eco
Movie Nights in collaboration with eco activist Puja Mitra’s Terra Conscious.
Since its inception last year, Eco Movie Nights have screened eco documentaries
on a range of environmental issues focused on India and globally. Puja MItra
says, “I felt that there was no dedicated space in Goa that regularly showcased
different environmental issues and film is a great medium through which one can
reach out to a wide audience. So the idea of Eco Movie Nights was born.” The
movie nights have witnessed a few regulars but the team feels that it’d be nice
to have more people attend the screenings. Mitra says, “People have been very
positive so far and felt that they learnt a lot. Awareness building is the
first step towards changing mindsets and leading to positive action and one way
to build awareness and increase sensitisation is through these eye opening
films.”
For the last five-odd years, Thus. Events has been in the
process of creating a pro-active and pragmatic community by screening movies
that are genre fluid, traversing between documentary, art house, film noir, political
satires and independent cinema, followed by discussions, mostly held at 6
Assagao. The team believes that the idea is to use films to spark conversations
leading to inspirations or critical evaluations, by the film and the film
maker. Generally, filmmakers present their film and interact with audience
post-screening, thereby allowing for a two way communication that defines the
perspective of the filmmaker and the audience. Nilankur Das of Thus. Events
says, “The audience is responsive and eager to understand and learn from the
filmmakers. With repetitive programmes of Thus., I believe there is a dedicated
and mindful crowd.”
Das also believes that the spaces that promote and screen
independent and documentary films are critical for both, the audience and the
filmmakers. The filmmakers do get sharp reactions and comments from engrossed
or critical audiences, and the audience can validate their ideas and queries
from the filmmakers.
Many
movie goers have been opting for offbeat movies that are screened at locations
such as those mentioned above, as opposed to watching the usual masala flicks
on the big screen. This alternative movie-watching experience, where you also
have a chance to engage in conversation with fellow movie lovers and perhaps
even make new friends, is a trend that is growing slowly yet steadily.
