Aravindan Prize for `Kaya Taran'

The Hindu : Front Page : Aravindan Prize for `Kaya Taran': "The noted media personality Sashi Kumar's debut Hindi feature film, Kaya Taran (Chrysalis) has won the Aravindan Puraskaram for 2004, for its "deft handling of a theme of contemporary relevance through sensitive imageries, carefully orchestrated sound design and finely etched characters."

The significant award was announced by the jury chairman and film director, Girish Kasaravalli; members James Joseph and K. Gopalakrishnan Nair; and the Chalachithra Film Society secretary, V. K. Narayanan, here today. Instituted by Chalachithra in 1992 in memory of the Malayalam director G. Aravindan, it is given to the best maiden film-maker. Kaya Taran was one of nine films, including six in Malayalam, that were short-listed. The award comprises a citation, a memento and a cash component.

Sashi Kumar, promoter and founder-president of the satellite television channel Asianet, one of the first regional language channels in the country, has produced a range of current affairs programmes for Doordarshan and PTI TV.

The 107-minute-long film, which was scripted, directed and produced by Sashi Kumar, is based on the Malayalam writer N. S. Madhavan's short story titled "When Big Trees Fall", set in the background of the anti-Sikh riots in 1984. The cast includes Seema Biswas, Angad Bedi, Neelambari Bhattacharya and Neetha Mohindra. Music is by Isaac Thomas Kuttakappally and editing by Sreekar Prasad. A.B. Kaul handled the camera.

The film is an attempt to rediscover one of the most important moments in Indian history when the identity of one community was sought to be erased. "