Editorial - Movie Edition

FADE FROM BLACK

INT. EDITOR'S DESK – DAY

Camera zooms in on a mahogany desk cluttered with scripts, film reels, and a steaming plate of Omkar’s special tawa pav. Camera pans to a dark figure behind the desk. Enter DON EDITORLEONE, The Godfather.

DON EDITORLEONE:

We are gathered here, not to simply publish another issue, but to celebrate the magic of cinema. Movies, my dear Bonasera, are more than mere entertainment.

Bonasera nods in agreement

DON EDITORLEONE(CONTD.):

In Hyderabad, if you throw a stone, it will probably hit a Letterboxd user. This city, this college, it breathes movies. What better way to honor this passion than through kMITRA’s 2024 Movie Edition?

Camera pans across the room, showing the determined face of Bonasera along with the rest of kMITRA, all ready to make this issue unforgettable.

DON EDITORLEONE(CONTD.):

Anyways, moving on, YOU COME INTO MY HOUSE, ON THE DAY OF MY DAUGHTER’S WEDDING AND YOU ASK ME-

CUT TO: Editorial - Movie Edition

Welcome to Issue 59 of kMITRA. Much like our knockoff godfather Don Editorleone, we at kMITRA strongly believe in the power of storytelling. From Mahishmathi to Arrakis, movies have transported us to so many different worlds, all without even having to step foot outside our homes. While I’m sure some of you intellectuals spend your lunch breaks going over the optimal sequence for AVL tree insertion, for most of us, canteen gossip thrives on discussing whether the latest movie release was a “hit or flop”.

Weekends at Prasad’s were a childhood staple, my parents’ foolproof motto? No amusement park or mall could compete with the enjoyment that a big screen guaranteed for 150 rupees. The dizzy feeling while walking out the hall after 2 hours in complete darkness, convincing mom to buy the extremely overpriced popcorn during intermission, trying my hand (and failing miserably) at the rock climbing wall beside the entrance, these are all cherished childhood memories.

Films are also a great conversation starter, their dance numbers and title scores dominate our playlists, and I swear every other meme on Instagram these days is about Aarya 2 (iykyk). So in this edition, we explore the impact of cinema on our lives. From thought-provoking analyses to alternative origin stories, our writers have covered a wide range of films based on the following prompts:

Prompt 1: A Movie That Made You Laugh:

The Anatomy of a Tragicomedy by Ananya Perwala

Prompt 2: A Non-Western Masterpiece:

The Universal Human Experience by M S Harshith Reddy

Neon Guts by Jishnu Attanti

Prompt 3: A Film with an LGBTQ+ Lead:

Beyond Enigma: the Turing paradox by Prajwal Joshi

Prompt 4: A Tale of Empowerment:

Stealing her identity with a Chhappaak by Sanjay Agamamidi

Prompt 5. A Musical Extravaganza:

Mayabazar: A Magical Melody by Shriani Reddy

Amadeus isn't even about Mozart? by Manognya B

Prompt 6. A True Story:

The Extraordinary Dreams of Ordinary People by Harika Kolli

Prompt 7. A Sci-Fi Film with Social Commentary:

Lisan al Gaib by Sreekruthi Nampally

Prompt 8. A Film That Raises Awareness:

Maycomb’s Voyage by Siri Karra

Dissecting class inequality by Syed R

Prompt 9. A Documentary Spotlight:

Rainbow Resistance by Aditya Donapati

Prompt 10. Art Attack:

Jalsaghar by Afifa Ahmed

We also have a special set of guest articles from our friends over at Abhinaya: The Drama Club.

Balagam - A Cinematic Ode to Telangana’s Rural Heartbeat by Srinith Vanamala

The Last Samurai: A Cinematic Journey by Srivatsa

Echoes of a fallen star by Srivatsank

What is the easiest sign that you loved a film? I would say it’s the empty feeling you get once the movie is over, unwilling to say goodbye to the characters you got so attached to, wanting to spend some more time in their world. That is exactly how it feels now that it’s time to bid adieu to our seniors, the batch of 2024. I hope you realize how much you mean to us, as past editors, mentors, writers, designers and developers. The trajectory of kMITRA truly would not have been the same without you, wishing you nothing but the best as you step off from this movie onto your own character spinoffs.

I really hope you enjoy the edition and have just one last thing to say:

Ref: Ryan Gosling(literally me)

FADE OUT

THE END