IDSFFK 2026: ‘Viraamam’ by Malavika VN dwells on the world of film projectionists

“Film projectionists are like candles. People rejoice watching movies that we screen, while we slowly melt”. This quote by Vincent Joseph, film projectionist at Radha Theatre, Kozhikode, is all one needs to understand Viraamam (At Reel’s End), the documentary by editor Malavika VN.

Viraamam , screened in the competition (short documentary) section at the ongoing 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Keralam (IDSFFK) in Thiruvananthapuram, zooms into the lives of film projectionists in the State — those who adapted to the changing times and others who chose to leave the field due to various circumstances. While some recall enjoying world classics from their rooms, one of them becomes emotional holding the carbon rods of the 35mm projector he used to work on.