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Indian short film merges into Cannes festival's collective consciousness

Indian short film merges into Cannes festival's collective consciousness

Cannes, May 19 (UNI) Man's manipulation of the world is the central theme of a short film from India at the 71st Cannes film festival. With the influential festival becoming a mirror to the society this year, 'Daivakanam' (The God Particle), fits the narrative about the troubling times.

Directed by Prasant Nair, 'Daivakanam' is about an astrologer in a Northern Kerala village inserting a feather in an occult chronometer one summer evening to freeze time. The 14-minute film joined an array of movies from around the world depicting the society's own violent ways to change the course of history.

"The mighty man tries to resist rather than change with the times," says Nair, who was at the Cannes festival to present the film. "Man clings to his ways by manipulating others, nature, and even time."

Screening films from Danish master Lars Von Trier to American Spike Lee and Iranian director Jafar Panahi to India's Nandita Das, the Cannes festival this year became a wide canvas of images of manipulation by man. Many movies dealt with the current crises across the globe creating millions of refugees, intolerance and terrorism.

The bugle sounded by 'Daivakanam' resonated with the pulse of the festival. The selection at Cannes this year included Lars Von Trier's attempts to portray the misogyny in the world witnessing the 'Me Too' movement in his new film 'The House That Jack Built', Spike Lee's 'BlacKkKlansman' about racism, Jafar Panahi's focus on tradition and modernity in '3 Faces', and Nandita Das' 'Manto' about freedom of expression.

'Daivakanam' is the first film of Nair, a young civil servant. An Indian Administrative Service officer of the Kerala cadre, Nair is currently serving as the private secretary to Union Tourism Minister Alphons Kannanthanam.

A former district collector of Kozhikode, Nair, who joined civil service in 2007, is an officer with a difference. In Kozhikode, he launched a 'Compassionate Kozhikode' initiative two years ago aimed at ensuring dignity of the poor. Nair also roped in the community to improve infrastructure in the city while involving volunteers for mental health care.

The IAS Association praised their colleague's foray into films. "Truly proud of Prasant Nair IAS who has directed 'Daivakanam' - a short film that will have its world premiere at Cannes Film Festival 2018," the association tweeted ahead of the film's screening in Cannes festival, which began on May 8.

The festival also saw Nair's role as an actor in a feature film, 'Who', screened in the Cannes film market during the festival. Directed by debutant Malayalam filmmaker Ajay Devaloka, 'Who' is a science fiction movie. Nair plays the role of a doctor in the film.

Nair also co-wrote National Award-winning director Anil Radhakrishnan Menon's 'Diwanjimoola Grandprix', a socio-political satire.

"It is a huge honour to present a small work to the whole world," says Nair. "For a beginner, the Cannes festival offers an opportunity to meet and learn from experienced filmmakers and watch their movies," he adds.

UNI XC SDR 1420

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