Jenson Joseph
This is the second set of materials assembled as a part of the Annotated Repository of the Art Cinemas of India project supported by the University of Chicago Delhi Centre. It includes key texts around the career of John Abraham, the Odessa Collective of which he was a key part, memoirs by those who knew Abraham personally, and conversations with and writing by Abraham himself.
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1. Odessa Journal Issues II (May 30, 1988), III (August 30, 1988), IV (Jan 31, 1989) and VI (August 1, 1992). Including Editorials, Readers’ Responses, and interviews with Ravindran, director of the Telugu film Harijan, and Malayalam films Ore Thooval Pakshikal, Iniyum Marikkatha Nammal, article by Dr V C Harris comparing Mukhamukham of Adoor Gopalakrishnan and John’s Amma Ariyan, extensive editorial discussion on Odessa’s objectives; Readers’ Responses.
2. English translation of selected articles from Journal Issues.
3. Odessa pamphlets (mostly in English). They include notices and pamphlets circulated on the occasion of film festivals and screenings that Odessa organized at various places.
4. Editorial about Odessa’s objectives; an article on John by C Vasudevanunni.
5. Interview with Joy Mathew (Bhashaposhini, Issue 38, Vol 8; August 2014; pp 6-19), Translation of Joy Mathew Interview
6. Eight interviews with John Abraham from John Abraham (Ed.) K N Shaji. Niyogam Books, Kochi: 1994; along with the pdf of the English translations of all the eight interviews. Abraham's short story ‘Cheriyachante Varalchayile Krithyangal / Cheriyachan's Deeds During the Famine’ From John Abrahaminte Kathakal, Trivandrum: Mythiri Books 2011.
John
7. John’s Writings; English Translations.
8. A collection of publicity material, pamphlets and notices circulated by various film societies across Kerala during the late 1980s and 1990s (Single pdf file; English and Malayalam); This material throws light on the kinds of films that were screened by film societies in Kerala.
9. R Nandakumar interviews John Abraham (Mathrubhoomi, Feb 24-March 1, 2008) (In Malayalam)
10. Article by C Ammad – a key figure in the early days of Odessa as well as in the making of Amma Ariyan. (Mathrubhoomi, June 16, 2013). (In Malayalam).
11. Deep Focus article on John and his films by C Vasudevanunni. (In English)
12. Memoirs by playwright N Sasidharan and V P Srilan. (In Malayalam)
13. Memoirs by O K Johnny, music director MB Srinivasan, and cameraman Venu (In Malayalam).
14. From John Paul. (2008). Kaalathinu Munpe Nadann avar [Those Ahead of Their Times], Olive: Kozhikode. The Prodigal Hero in an Absurd Play
15. K.P. Kumaran, from the anthology John Abraham edited by K.N. Shaji, Thiruvavanthapuram: Chintha Publishers, 2011
‘The One Who Spoke in the Desert’
16. R. Gopinathan, from the study John Abraham Ammaye Thedi / John Abraham in Search of Mother, Kottayam: National Bookstall, 2010.
‘The Paths of the Traveller’ and ‘A Free Medium’, pgs 22-86
