Ansari dedicates to the nation Kerala's first film institute

Vice-President Hamid Ansari today dedicated to the nation the K R Narayanan Institute of Visual Sciences and Arts, a first of its kind imitative of the Kerala government at nearby Thekkumithala.
Speaking on the occasion, Ansari said there was a need to have institutes with international standards to equip future generations of visual and video artists not only with the aesthetic creativity and social awareness, but also with the technical and logistical aspects of film and video making.
"In this context, it is very apt that the Government of Kerala has come forward to establish a national level film and visual arts institute in memory of the former President K R Narayanan," Ansari said.

The Vice President also said that cinema, a complex and powerful art form,can transmit a political and social message.
"It is a form of popular entertainment but it is also a mass-communication medium," he said.
Stating that cinema has become an integral part of our cultural identity, he said "while it is true that a large number of films are made for entertainment; the meaningful and artistic films continue to hold a special place with the audiences.

"As an art form, cinema is perhaps the most dependent on technology and thus most susceptible to changes from technical innovations," he said.

Stressing the necessity to update the industry with modern technology, Ansari said "equipment quickly becomes obsolete.
In this scenario, new aspirants need to learn not only the basics of the art and craft, but also how to adapt with and adopt the latest technology.
Ansari also lauded the film culture of Kerala and said people of the state appreciate good cinema.
"The annual International Film Festival of Kerala has established itself in the international cinema calendar. The provenance of Kerala should prove to be fertile ground for recruiting talented students and staff," he said.
K R Narayanan National Institute of Visual Sciences and Arts was set up by the state government with an objective to impart world-class knowledge and training in visual-based technologies such as cinema, television, and video to Indian artists and technicians.

The institute offers three-year diploma courses in script writing, direction, acting, cinematography, animation, editing and audiography.
Governor Justice (Rtd) P Sathasivam and Chief Minister Ooomen Chandy were among those attended the function.