While director Pa Ranjith’s movie Kaala starring Rajinikanth was widely appreciated for its portrayal of caste politics in mainstream cinema, the director has expressed disappointment over the film not making it to International Film Festival of India’s Indian Panorama list.
"Unfortunately, they have not selected the film at IFFI. I don't understand why 'Tiger Zinda Hai' was selected and 'Kaala' was not,” the director was quoted saying by PTI. Ranjith was at Goa on Wednesday, attending the screening of Mari Selvaraj’s Pariyerum Perumal. This film was produced by Ranjith’s home banner, Neelam Productions.
The Indian Panaroma has a total of 26 feature and 21 non-feature Indian films that have been selected by a Jury panel.
Explaining that it was important for films to address casteism, Ranjith said that producers should come forward to encourage such films.
"They (the producers) are not ready. They are still not letting the audiences get used to different types of cinema. Producers tend to not take risks thinking they will challenge the set pattern. I want to make it clear for other producers that such a story needs to be put out. Let Pariyerum Perumal be an example for the others,” he said.
In his interview to PTI, the director also asserted his stand on politics and said that it is the honesty in his politics that lets him connect with the audience. He also added that he considers cinema to be a political medium and that he is a politician. “I am in politics. Cinema is a very political medium. I'm a politician," he was quoted saying.
IFFI 2018 that began on Tuesday will conclude on the 28th of November. This year, among the list of Indian films, the one’s from Tamil Nadu include Ram’s Peranbu, Chezhiyan’s To Let, Priya Krishnaswamy’s Baaram and Neelam Production’s Pariyerum Perumal.