In a major step towards making world cinema accessible to everyone, the Kozhikode UNESCO City of Literature, in collaboration with the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy and the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation, has launched “Friday Screening”—a weekly free film screening initiative.
The program was officially inaugurated on January 9, 2026, by the Honorable Mayor of Kozhikode, Sri O. Sadasivan, at the Bharat Balan K. Nair Hall, Anakkulam Cultural Centre.
Dignitaries Present: The event saw the presence of several distinguished guests, including:
- Smt. S. Jayasree (Deputy Mayor, Kozhikode Municipal Corporation)
- Smt. Naveena Vijayan (Regional Coordinator, Kerala State Chalachitra Academy)
- Adv. Prajeesh Thiruthiyil (Member, Malabar Devaswom Board)
- Dr. P.P. Pramod Kumar (Assistant Director, Health Department)
- Sri Pratap Joseph (Film Director)
- Smt. Saritha (Nodal Officer, City of Literature)
Inaugural Screening: The series kicked off with a screening of Satyajit Ray’s timeless masterpiece, Pather Panchali (1955). The 126-minute Bengali classic was screened with Malayalam subtitles, drawing a large audience of film society activists, industry professionals, and cinema lovers.
Ongoing Event: Going forward, the Bharat Balan K. Nair Hall at Anakkulam Cultural Centre will host these free screenings every Friday, offering the public a curated selection of significant films.