Meaningful socio-political cinema is giving way to crime and violence, says Rafeeq Ahamed
Poet and lyricist Rafeeq Ahamed on Sunday (July 19, 2026) expressed concern over the dwindling space for politically and socially engaged cinema, saying films rooted in meaningful narratives are increasingly being replaced by those that glorify crime and violence.
Inaugurating the celebrations to mark the 100th screening of Kolazhy Cinema Kottaka, a film society operating under Kolazhy Grameena Vayanasala, at the Kerala Sahitya Akademi hall, Mr. Ahamed said that cinema has gradually been reduced to a form of entertainment, especially in multiplexes, with little lasting emotional or intellectual impact on the audience.
“One wonders whether watching many of today’s films offers any real human or aesthetic fulfillment. Earlier films, many of them taken from great works of literature, carried a distinct political vision. Their re-examination today opens up new dimensions of thought. In contrast, many contemporary films, despite their technical excellence, leave viewers with nothing to think about after leaving the cinema,” he said.
“A deeply humanistic initiative”
KPN film scholar Amritha delivered the keynote address on ‘Cinema and Humanity’ and described the very idea of Cinema Kottaka as a deeply humanistic initiative.
Ms. Amritha said that cinema, despite being a product of scientific and technological advancement, remains one of the most powerful art forms for cultivating human values. She observed that truly humanistic films are those that are able to transform local stories and concerns into universal conversations.
Films that meaningfully deal with caste discrimination, inequality, fractured interpersonal relationships and political struggles enrich society by encouraging critical thinking and empathy, she said, citing the works of several internationally renowned filmmakers.
C. Balachandran, Vice-Chairman of the Library, presided over the function. The event concluded with a screening of the Spanish film Calle Málaga with Malayalam subtitles.
Earlier in the day, filmmaker Nandalal conducted a workshop on preparation of Malayalam subtitles for films for select participants.
Published – 19 Jul 2026 20:29 IST