Bioscope (film)


Bioscope is a 2008 Malayalam film produced by National Film Development Corporation of India and directed by K. M. Madhusudhanan. The film won a Special Jury award at the 56th National Film Awards and also won 5 awards in the 2008 Kerala State Film Awards.

Plot

Bioscope, set in the early years of the twentieth century, is a story of history entering the paths of memories and dreams. The story of villagers, made mute by colonialism and slavery, entering the garden of a new vision through a new machine, bioscope. The protagonist Diwakaran’s new journey starts with his acquisition of a bioscope. The Frenchman DuPont, who does bioscope shows on the coasts of Tamil Nadu, is the architect of his new journey. Diwakaran was stunned by early forms of cinema images. His relationship with DuPont and the bioscope starts with his astonishment when he first sees moving images. It turns into a story of inseparable friendship. Divakaran purchases the machine from DuPont and intends to entertain his village folks with his films, but ultimately falls prey to superstitions and suspicions about the instrument.

Production

The film is based on the book Bioscope written by K. M. Madhusudhanan. The book is based on the real-life story of Varunni Joseph, who ran bioscope shows in Kerala in 1907. The director plans to make a sequel. "Bioscope is the first part of a trilogy. The second part is titled Kannadi Kottaka and is set in contemporary Kerala. It is about a movie house and three people who are connected to it," says Madhusudhanan.

Cast