''Maadathy'', also known internationally as ''Maadathy: An Unfairy Tale'', is a 2019 Indian-Tamil language folklore drama film written, directed and produced by Leena Manimekalai under the banner of Karuvachy films and co-produced by Piiyush Singh (Golden Ratio Films), Bhavana Goparaju, and Abinandhan Ramanujam. The film stars Ajmina Kassim, Patrick Raj,

Semmalar Annam Semmalar Annam is an Indian actress who rose to fame with the critically acclaimed Tamil drama film ''Ammani'' (2016) directed by Lakshmy Ramakrishnan. She has also directed and acted in more than fifteen short films during her studies at colle ...

and Arul Kumar in the lead roles. The film was premiered at Busan International Film Festival 2019 and received a positive critical response. The film later got released in the OTT platform Neestream globally on 24, June 2021.

Plot

The film is set in the backdrop of a river which acts as a symbol of the oppressor and the oppressed. The river is a way out, for the lead character a Dalit, Yosana; a liberation from the blind realities of caste. India is a land of Subaltern deities. Each deity has a unique legend and these legends are often interwoven with socio-historic tropes of India. Puthirai vannaar is an 'unseeable' Dalit caste group, in southern India. Their forced-occupation is to wash clothes of other Dalits, the dead and the menstruating women. This film is a tale about a young girl who grew up in ''Puthirai vannaa''r caste group and how she came to be immortalized as their local deity, ''Maadathy''.

Cast

* Ajmina Kassim as Yosana *

as Veni * Arul Kumar as Sudalai * Patrick Raj

Critical reception

News Minute reviewed "It's rare to see a film where the male body is subjected to the female gaze". ''The Cinema Express'' wrote, "Remarkably exudes the power of cinema, of storytelling that is poignantly reflective of a society where legends of sin circle and haunt our deities".

Awards

# World Premiere,

Busan International Film Festival The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF, previously Pusan International Film Festival, PIFF), held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan (''also'' Pusan), South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. The first festiv ...

, October 2019. # India Premiere, International Competition,

Kolkata International Film Festival The Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) is an annual film festival held in Kolkata, India. Founded in 1995, it is the third oldest international film festival in India. The festival is organized by the West Bengal Film Centre under the W ...

, November 2019.

References

External links

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"A devastating film on caste and gender discrimination"
#[https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/2020/oct/09/maadathy-an-unfairy-tale-movie-review-leela-manimekalais-blazing-and-poignant-tale-of-terror-20691.html "Remarkably exudes the power of cinema, of storytelling that is poignantly reflective of a society where legends of sin circle and haunt our deities.] #Moving portrayal of innocence in a casteist world , Decca
Herald"I believed that it is unethical to write and make imagined stories about real people. They must be co-authors""My films are my way of showing solidarity to fellow human beings.”
#[https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/indian-cinema/maadathy-leena-manimekalai-tamil-indie-film-media-mainstream-movies-caste-politics-dalit#read-more Tamil Media Does Not Nurture Appreciation for Cinema: Leena Manimekalai, Director of Tamil Indie Maadathy (thequint.com)]
Maadathy director Leena Manimekalai: Our families would collapse if women chose to freeze after abus- Cinema express"''Maadathy'' did change me as a person. Every project does that to me, it ploughs me and makes me bear its fruits, sweet or sour"
-> {{improve categories, date=July 2021 2010s Tamil-language films 2010 films Films scored by Karthik Raja