IFFK 2017 opening ceremony: A narrative is being forced on us, says actor Prakash Raj

The 22nd edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala began on a sombre note. The chief guest Bengali actress Madhabi Mukherjee inaugurated the eight-day festival by lighting candles to pay tribute to the victims of cyclone Ockhi. 

Other guests included veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Bengali filmmaker and actress Aparna Sen, Malayalam actress Sheela, Malayalam actor Prakash Raj and Oscar winning sound designer Resul Pookutty.

The havoc caused by the cyclone hasn’t dampened the spirit of cinephiles in the state.

The opening ceremony saw a packed auditorium cheering for the guests. While, the ceremony was kept brief, minus the festivities originally planned, actor Prakash Raj congratulated the organisers for letting the spirit of the film festival continue. 

Known for speaking his mind against censorship and state oppression, the actor spoke of the difficult times the country is facing, “Ladies and gentlemen, yes we are in difficult times. Let’s not mince words when we see around that there is an agenda, there is a narrative which is being forced on us.”

He concluded by urging the audience to put their foot down and use their voice against the censorship of creativity. “Films, creativity, thinking, free expression being stopped is the most dangerous disease a society can have,” he said. 

The brief ceremony was followed by the presentation of Lifetime Achievement Award to Russian director Alexander Sokurov, and the screening of the opening French-Lebanese film, L'insulte (The Insult), directed by Ziad Doueiri.