Industry insiders offer ideas for film university

Chief Minister Kumaraswamy has allocated Rs 30 crore to establish a one-of-its-kind university near Bengaluru

The Karnataka government will set up a film university at Ramanagara, around 50 km from Bengaluru. In his budget, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has announced a Rs 30 crore allocation for the film university.

S Shivaram, actor, director and producer, says, “There are many institutes and universities that teach filmmaking. The proposed university should focus on serious filmmakers and thinkers.” He would like the university also to run film appreciation courses.

“The syllabus must cover dance, music, editing and cinematography. Separate sections for direction, script-writing and presentation of cinema would be good. A culture of celluloid imagination must be cultivated among the people,” he says.

History of cinema not enough

Anand Varadaraj, president, Suchitra Film Society, says the current syllabi at film institutes focuses on theoretical aspects. The university should encourage research, which is often missed out when making cinema, he says. He also adds that though voice dubbing is a common practice in Indian cinema, it is not the practice the world over. Voice is a part of acting, and the university should teach students the importance of this.

“Valuing the script is something that should be taught. The essence of the story is more important than heroism,” he says.

Preserve work of our legends

Girija Lokesh, actor, wants the university to include a film city. “Currently, we go to Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad for many things. We wouldn’t have to if we had something like that here,” she says.

Girija suggests an archive preserve the works of acting legends such as Dr Rajkumar and Aswath for posterity. “We could also screen the best films of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s and have discussions. Some actors regularly organise screenings in their homes and host discussions. The university must keep the history of Kannada films alive,” she says.

Bring academic discipline to film-making

Nagathihalli Chandrashekar, author, filmmaker and chairman of the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, says, “The university must look into all aspects of television and cinema. An academic discipline must be brought to acting, direction, editing and cinematography. The film university must serve as a global platform for the exchange of ideas and knowledge.”

The university should organise guest lectures and screen international films. It could also teach marketing and production of cinema.

No need to go abroad to study

Girish Kasaravalli, well-known filmmaker, says, “Bangalore University has a course but we don’t have a film city in Karnataka. Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and Hyderabad have film institutes. It would be good to have all courses related to films under one roof. Instead of young filmmakers going abroad to study filmmaking, they could study here. This university will be useful for both the Kannada film industry and students of filmmaking.”