The Keralam government will accord industry status to Malayalam cinema by September-end. It will also roll out its ambitious film literacy programme in schools and colleges to introduce students to global cinema, P. C Vishnunadh, Minister for Culture and Cinema, told The Hindu.

“The government will implement the assurance given to the Malayalam cinema before the October 9 deadline of the 100-day action plan of the UDF government,” he said.

“Keralam’s Department of Culture has plans to complete three of its major initiatives before the deadline. The Sree Narayana Guru Cultural Complex in Kollam will be made active by lining up programmes throughout the year as part of the initiative to set up a network linking it with the Subrahmanyan Thirumumbu Cultural Complex in Kasaragod and the V.T. Bhattathiripad Cultural Complex in Palakkad”, he said.

The stakeholder consultations connected to the granting of industry status to Malayalam cinema are at its final stages. It included meetings with a host of departments, including Industries, Local Self-Government, Finance and the Kerala State Electricity Board, he said.

On the film literacy initiative, Mr. Vishnunadh said that the project will be rolled out in select higher secondary schools and colleges in the first phase.

“The idea is to encourage meaningful discussions on world cinema among the students. The project, which is being implemented in association with the Department of General Education and the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, will provide them a platform to interact with filmmakers and expand their understanding about cinema and its varied aspects”, he said.

The move to step up the activities of the three cultural complexes has been taken based on the inference that the institutions have not yet reached its full potential, despite having the credentials to come up with a variety of programmes throughout the year.

The Minister said the government has plans to appoint curators as part of the efforts to create a space, where artists will be able to perform on a regular basis. A professional administration will be in place to govern these cultural complexes, he said.

Published - August 21, 2026 11:31 am IST