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Marked by poignant images
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Gripping narratives make two of Leena Manimekalai’s works distinct
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A slice of reality Shooting at a slum
Documentary filmmaker Leena Manimekalai has added to her repertoire ‘A Hole in the Bucket’ and ‘Goddesses’, two of her recent works.
Produced by Saci Waters, an international consortium for water issues, ‘A Hole in the Bucket,’ takes a look at the perennial water crisis in Chennai in the context of families with different income levels. The anomalies are all too obvious.
The women in a seaside slum spend all their time collecting and storing water, spending three rupees for a pot, and one rupee for each visit to the public toilet. On the other hand, a high-rise apartment complex manages to get a steady supply of metro water and ground water, at comparatively low charges as water and sanitation tax.
A farmer sells the ground water on his land to the city’s Metro Water Corporation for a measly Rs. 50 per 12,000 litres, overlooking the possibility of his own resource drying up. The documentary captures the distressing reality of water becoming a commodity, exploited by both individuals and government agencies.
Leena Manimekalai
Fowzia Fathima’s camera brings alive the situation, flooding the frames with water; it leaves the viewer thirsty.
All about women
‘Goddesses’ follows the lives of three extraordinary women — Lakshmi, Krishnaveni, and Sethurakku — who go against norms to succeed in male-oriented careers: fishing, grave-digging and funeral singing.
The film weaves together the emotions of these women and the difficulties they undergo to keep their lives intact. How their humane outlook causes a sense of shame in people more blessed is poignantly brought out. Cinematographer Sunny Joseph employs his talent well to reflect the moods.
Audiographer Santhaana Nambi’s work is worth mentioning. Both films have been edited by P. Thangaraj, whose skill helps dovetail the frames seamlessly. Kanavuppattarai, Leena Manimekalai’s home production company, has produced ‘Goddesses.’
Leena Manimekalai’s films have been screened in several forums and have won best film awards and mentions in about eight international and national film festivals which include Women in Director’s Chair International Film Festival (Chicago), Movies International Film Festival in Europe, Independent Art Film Festival (Toronto), Independent Film Festivals in Norway and Paris, Asian Freedom Film Festival (Malaysia), European Union Fellowship for Conflict Resolution and so on.
‘A Hole in the Bucket’ got a premiere in the Stockholm International Water Conference Film Festival last August.
‘Goddesses’ got a mention in the Women Building Peace International Film Competition held in Kenya this September and is set to travel to Gutenberg International Film Fest, Vancouver International Film Festival, Ottawa Independent Film Festival and Asian Women Travelling Film Festival. So, what next? Leena is all set to begin production of a full length feature film “Azhagaana Thavarugal.”
S. R. ASHOK KUMAR
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