NEW TRENDS IN MALAYALAM CINEMA: A CASE STUDY ON AMAL NEERAD FILMS JOSEPH ANTONY Registered Number: 1424011 A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Media and Communication Studies CHRIST UNIVERSITY Bengaluru 2016 Program Authorized to Offer Degree Department of Media Studies CHRIST UNIVERSITY Department of Media Studies This is to certify that I have examined this copy of a master’s thesis by Joseph Antony Registered Number: 1424011 and have found that it is complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the final examining committee have been made. Committee Members: _____________________________________________________ [SUPARNA NARESH] _____________________________________________________ Date: iii I, Joseph Antony, confirm that this dissertation and the work presented in it are my own achievement. 1. Where I have consulted the published work of others this is always clearly attributed. 2. Where I have quoted from the work of others the source is always given. With the exception of such quotations this dissertation is entirely my own work. 3. I have acknowledged all main sources of help. 4. If my research follows on from previous work or is part of a larger collaborative research project I have made clear exactly what was done by others and what I have contributed myself. 5. I am aware and accept the penalties associated with plagiarism. Date: v CHRIST UNIVERSITY ABSTRACT New Trends in Malayalam Cinema: A Case Study on Amal Neerad Films Joseph Antony Amal Neerad is an Indian Film Maker and Cinematographer hailing from Kerala. He is also a producer and has recently produced several movies. Amal Neerad is known for his style in cinematography which is unique. The Director uses his typical style of film making in all his movies. Certain cinematic techniques like continuity cuts and extreme angles are extensively used in the movies of Amal Neerad. The researcher tries to analyze the style of Amal Neerad and bring out what is common in his movies. The researcher also tries to find out how the director has created a niche for himself and how it becomes a new trend in the Malayalam Film Industry. Keywords: Amal Neerad, Malayalam films, New trends, Cinematography vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The researcher expresses his sincere gratitude to the whole Department of Media Studies, especially the faculty for extended long-term support. The researcher is also greatful to Suparna Narash the research guide for her patience and knowledge. This thesis would never have been completed without the encouragement and devotion of my beloved family and friends. Last, but not the least, I thank God Almighty for leading me throughout the duration of the research. ix DEDICATION To my parents. xi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Figures………………………………………………………………..……..xiv Chapter 1 Introduction to the Study .............................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................... 1 1.2 A Short History of Cinema................................................................... 2 1.3 The Indian Film Industry...................................................................... 4 1.4 Amal Neerad ........................................................................................ 8 Chapter 2 Review of Literature .................................................................... 10 Chapter 3 Methodology ................................................................................. 25 3.1 Research: Meaning and Definition ..................................................... 25 3.2 Research types .................................................................................... 26 3.3 Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methodologies ...................... 29 3.4 Primary and Secondary Data .............................................................. 31 3.5 Research Problem ............................................................................... 35 Chapter 4 Analysis ......................................................................................... 38 4.1 Content Analysis ................................................................................ 38 4.2 Comparison of Technical Features in Amal Neerad Movies ............. 70 4.3 Expert Opinion ................................................................................... 73 4.4 Focus Group ....................................................................................... 79 Chapter 5 Conclusion .................................................................................... 84 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 84 5.2 Discussion of Results ......................................................................... 85 5.3 Limitations ......................................................................................... 86 5.4 Recommendations for Further Study ................................................. 87 5.5 Conclusion .......................................................................................... 87 Bibliography ................................................................................................... 88 xiii TABLE OF FIGURES Figure 4.1 Introduction of Protagonist in Big B .............................................. 41 Figure 4.2 Low angles used to emphasis the characters .................................. 42 Figure 4.3 Death of loved one and relation with close ones become a theme of the film ........................................................................................... 45 Figure 4.4 Song sequences from the movie Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded ....... 45 Figure 4.5 Introduction of protagonist in Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded ........... 47 Figure 4.6 Use of low angle shots in Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded .................. 47 Figure 4.7 Bomb blast scene from Anwar ....................................................... 50 Figure 4.8 Use of extreme high angles and low angles in Anwar ................... 52 Figure 4.9 Use of extreme high angles and low angles in Bachelor Party ...... 57 Figure 4.10 Introduction of Prithviraj in Bachelor Party ................................. 57 Figure 4.11 Slow motion sequence from Bachelor Party ................................ 58 Figure 4.12 Unconventional angles from Kullante bharya that is used for the POV of the narrator ............................................... 62 Figure 4.13 Man walking away in rain from the last scene of Kullante Bharya ............................................................................ 63 Figure 4.14 Use of wide angle and extreme high angle in Iyobinte Pusthakam ...................................................................... 67 Figure 4.15 Jib shot from Iyobinte Pusthakam ................................................ 68 Figure 4.16 Use of light in the cinematography of Iyobinte Pusthakam ......... 69 Figure 4.17 Continuity cut from the movie Iyobinte Pusthakam ..................... 69 Figure 4.18 Use of unconventional angles in different Amal Neerad movies during Introduction of Characters .................................... 71 Figure 4.19 Use of continuity cuts in Big B, Iyobinte Pusthakam, Anwar and Bachelor Party while a character falls dead. .......................... 73 xiv 1. Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY 1 1.1 Introduction “Films do not exist in vacuum: they are conceived, produced, distributed and consumed within specific economic and social contexts” (Nelmes, 1999). A film, also called a movie or motion picture is a progression of still images which, when demonstrated on a screen, makes the illusion of moving. This optical illusion causes the audience to see constant motion between independent articles saw quickly in progression. A film is made by shooting genuine scenes with a motion picture camera. "Cinema" is frequently used to refer to the industry of films and filmmaking or to the art of filmmaking itself. The contemporary meaning of cinema is the art of simulating experiences to communicate ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty or atmosphere by the method for recorded or customized moving images alongside other intangible incitements. Film, in simple words, refers to a set of images moving continuously, one after the other which creates an illusionary effect of movement. Cinematography is the fantasy of movement by the recording and subsequent quick projection of many motionless photographic images on a screen. (Cinematography: A Very Short History of Cinema, 2011) Today filming is not only a technology, but an art. Film making is considered to be an art that conveys ideas or stories with the help of visuals as well as sound. Sound is often associated with movies though there are movies without sound. Apart from being an art, the process of making a film is today an industry too. It is a medium of mass communication and entertainment currently accessed by millions of people. The invention of cinema cannot be attributed to a single person. However the first projected moving picture was the Lumière brothers in the year1895. The art form is that old and has evolved over the years to be a multi-billion industry. The medium of movie cannot be measured apart from its significance—that is, apart from the multidimensional and varied experience of spectators. Investigating the interaction of medium and viewer is one of the primary concerns of film theory. There