'Dr. Thomas Waugh', professor of Film Studies at the Concordia University, Canada, was told about ?the very beautiful land? of Kerala while globetrotting after his graduation. He made his first trip as a tourist in ?71, was amply impressed and has since been coming here regularly. 

You have travelled a lot and seen many lands and many cultures. What impresses you most about Kerala?

Kerala is quite unique in the harmony that is maintained between landscape or nature and people.

This is seen in almost all the places in the State except in say, a big city like Cochin, where there is pollution and so on. 

What are the changes you have seen in Kerala over the past years?

When I first came here, tourism was not such a big thing. Kovalam, for instance, was not so developed and the majority of tourists there were young backpackers. But now there is enormous development in the tourism sector though great care has to be taken to ensure that it remains eco-friendly and planned. 

Which place in Kerala did you like the most?

This may be an unconventional answer but Calicut is the place I like the most about Kerala. Since it is not one of the hot tourist spots in the State with hundreds of tourists all over the place, you can see people and life in a casual, ordinary mode. 

Have you interacted with the film community here?

Apart from my first two trips as a tourist, I have been coming here to lecture, research, meet people in the industry and so on. When I came here in ?88, I interviewed Adoor and Aravindan. At my university, we have a paper on Indian film every three year or so and I try to include a few films of Kerala. I feel more tourists should get an exposure to the films, music and television programmes of Kerala so that along with the cultural heritage, they can also have a taste of the modern Kerala. 

What do you think of the people of Kerala?

They?re very friendly and relaxed. The women here wear flowers in their hair which, I think, is a pointer to the general attitude to life. 

Have you tried Kerala cuisine?

Yes, I have had a sadya though not with all the items of the traditional one. I like appam and uppuma.