Art Kanara Trust hosts screening of experimental film ‘Hear O, Mahatma’ directed by P. N. Ramachandra

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, 3 May 2025: Art Kanara Trust, Mangaluru hosted a special screening of Hear O, Mahatma, an experimental film directed by P. N. Ramachandra, at the Kodialguthu Centre for Art and Culture on Saturday, 3 May 2025, at 5.30 pm. The event drew a select gathering of artists, thinkers and film enthusiasts, and was introduced by Subhas Chandra Basu, President of Art Kanara Trust.

P. N. Ramachandra, a Mumbai-based filmmaker and a 1990 graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, presented his 100-minute film, which was released in 2024. The film delves into the contradictions of contemporary society through the prism of Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy, employing a hybrid narrative that blends documentary and fiction. It follows the intertwined stories of a conflicted filmmaker, a committed social reformer and a regressive politician—each portrayed as doppelgängers—to reflect the fractured spirit of the times. The work seeks to critique modern society’s strained relationship with Gandhian ideals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introducing the screening, Ramachandra remarked, “The format includes a significant amount of personal footage, which has been experimented with using Artificial Intelligence. This is not the conventional documentary format that viewers may be familiar with.”

A discussion followed the screening, during which the director engaged with the audience on various aspects of the film, including its experimental structure, socio-political undertones, the integration of AI, and its accessibility to a wider audience. P. N. Ramachandra was felicitated by the organisers on the occasion.