The Film Society Movement opened up a new world before the
cineastes of Keralam and helped create a new sensibility to
the public by introducing world cinema and the world of cinema
on a scale that was unimaginable and impossible earlier. Started
in the Sixties the Movement gathered its momentum in the Seventies.
It worked in the fissure between contemporary Malayalam cinema
and world cinema. The movement brought in a new consciousness
about cinema and stood for a 'different' kind of cinema, which
was termed 'new wave', 'parallel' or 'art'.
Keralam has one of the most vibrant and enduring Film Society
movements in the country. A unique feature of the Movement
in Keralam is its coverage. It is and was never an urban phenomenon
but something that cut across all terrains and sections of
society. Such popularity was another reason why it was not
just a wave, like in other states. With regard to the quality
and quantity of screenings, and the discourses and discussions
about film, the film societies in the region have shown the
way.
