St. Joseph College of Communication (SJCC), Media Village, recently hosted the Sankaramangalam Lectures, centering on the evocative theme “Rhythms of Compassion: Cinema of Ritwik Ghatak”. The event, held at the Changanassery campus, brought together cinematic scholars and students to honor the enduring legacy of the legendary filmmaker.
The program was officially inaugurated by the distinguished director Mr. Hariharan K. In a profound keynote address, Mr. Hariharan offered a fresh philosophical lens on the medium, asserting that cinema is not a mere reflection of society, but a refraction. He argued that just as light bends when passing through a medium, a filmmaker’s vision bends and focuses the “raw light” of social reality to reveal deeper, often hidden, truths about the human condition.
During his specific session, “Formal Principles in the Melodrama of Ritwik Ghatak,” Mr. Hariharan explored how Ghatak’s unique cinematic language utilized this refractive quality to portray the socio-political trauma of his era. The session, introduced by Mr. Sunny Joseph and moderated by Rev. Dr. Lincoln Kadooparayil, sparked a vibrant dialogue on the structural nuances of Ghatak’s work
Earlier, the gathering was welcomed by Rev. Dr. Mathew Muriankary, with Rev. Fr. Jophy Puthuparampu delivering the presidential address, highlighting SJCC’s commitment to “Transforming Media for a Wholesome World”.
The academic exploration continued with noted film critic CS Venkiteswaran, who presented a lecture titled “The First 100 Years of Ghatak”. Introduced by Mr. Noble Peter and moderated by Mr. Leenus L K, Venkiteswaran examined the filmmaker’s influence over the past century and his continued relevance to contemporary audiences