Madurai, ‘Lady Doak’ College girls capture life in city as it happens
Students of Lady Doak College rolled out the camera on the streets of Madurai to bring in excitement into their classrooms. As many as 15 students, who had opted for a four-month certificate course in `Documentary Film Making,’ shot five films, all based on happenings in and around the city.
A film titled `Javvumittai’ highlighted the traditional art of candy making and how it is slowly fading into the oblivion. Mayandi of Thathaneri narrated his 33-year-old business to the girls. Varthika Neethi Mohan and Karthiga Sekar, who made the film, presented it with sub-titles for better comprehension.
The film, `Trends,’ shot by Sabitha Sini.N., Bhagawathi Nitya Bama and Sridevi.S., focused on various opinions on the fast changing fashions of women’s wardrobe. Though the trend is for jeans and short and tight tops, students budge to their parents’ wishes and opt for trendy long skirts and tops, said Sabitha Sini and added that she learnt to cull details from `tongue-tied’ people.
P. Josephine Edal Ursaline, Sathya Meonah and Abilash.K., documented a film titled `Sarugugal’ that expressed the feelings and emotions of elderly people who work for earning their bread.
Priyanka Mehta and Krithika.C. highlighted the intensity of general traffic violations and the difficulties of drivers in the film `Run out of Road.’
At the Orphanage
`An Unknown Future’ focused on young orphans, who have high aspirations but lack care and attention. The scene was set at an orphange, `Sevashram,’ and picturised children who have high aims such as becoming doctors and police officers to serve the poor people. The film was directed by
Lakshmi Priya B., Abirami Jaganathan and Achsah Georgina.
The audio-visual unit of the college organised the certificate course and Jill Reese from Pacific University, Oregon, was the course director.
The unit had also produced a short film named `Sarugugal Malargalagattum’ for the service-learning programme of the Department of Physics. Directed by G. Vasanthi, Reader, Department of Physics, the film emphasises the importance of public participation in segregating recyclable materials at the source.
“We wanted to tell people that throwing away recyclable waste was more like throwing currencies,” Ms. Vasanthi said and added that she went through Chithrai Streets and Veli Streets including the sub-streets for the film.
Commenting on the experiences of the students, Ms. Vasanthi said that documentary filmmaking gave opportunities to students to be creative and express themselves through digital tools.
Besides, they master basic skills such as researching, reading, writing, speaking and collecting details. They also develop critical skills such as problem solving.
Source: Hindu
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