But there is a fundamental flaw in our system, as these oppressed people depend on testimonials of their oppressors to get their community certificate. For migration to happen, the people must receive the grants of the government and get themselves educated. His brother's family is still enslaved and forced to wash period blood-stained clothes and the clothes of the dead. Even though he is an ex-government employee and a learned man, till date, he is forced to bow down while crossing вЂupper caste streetsвЂ™.

He was the first graduate of Puthirai Vannars. I stayed in ex-Tahsildar Murthy Ayya's house during my research for the film. Migration is indeed the first step to liberation, but a wholesome culture change is the need of the hour. But for people from oppressed societies, villages have never been safe places. Villages have forever been romanticised in films and novels. Also, yes, itвЂ™s a common name in the community.Дo you consider migration to cities and towns as the first line of defence by the oppressed?В The fate of Yosana turns worse when she tries to migrate, though. I liked it because it roughly translates to, вЂa girl lost in her thoughtsвЂ™. Yavanika Sriram, the co-writer of the film, came up with this name. Is the protagonistвЂ™s name, Yosana, a philosophical choice, as the girl is a dreamer? Or is it a common name in the community?ДЄ mix of both. I met them, researched about their life for two years, and came up with the script of Maadathy,' she says. Though I had touched upon this topic with my early documentaries, Mathamma and Parai, I wanted to make a feature film based on the struggles of Puthirai Vannar women.

Even today, people consider seeing them a sin.В Women from these community have faced sexual violence due to both gender and caste discrimination. Puthirai Vannars are thought to be the 'Dalit of Dalits' and the last in the caste-based hierarchical system.

While doing research for this documentary, I came across an oppressed community named Puthirai Vannars this was the spark for Maadathy,' she says. вЂњI have been working on a documentary feature named Rape Nation since 2015, that is based on five sexual harassment survivors, who led a legal movement against injustice and emerged as social leaders. You can see where she gains her knowledge from she has been actively pursuing these stories for years. Even simple questions-like one about the germination of the filmвЂ™s idea-drew incredibly detailed answers from her. Even still, I hardly expected that the conversation with director Leena Manimekalai would turn out to be a masterclass on caste-based oppression, censor board problems, and the female gaze in cinema. It is said that a journalist is someone who gets paid to learn through their interviews.

Paruthiveeran climax rape scene