Leena Manimekalai says her work is a political act

To break the feudal, masochist and capitalist structure of mainstream cinema is a political act. As for Leena Manimekalai, her whole life has been a political act, being a woman and a director.

“Being a woman and an independent artiste is making a statement. My whole life and work is on gender politics,” said the maker of 10 documentaries and a feature film that broke away from the stereotypical moulds with a vengeance, in a talk with V. Musafir Ahamed at a session on ‘Film Making as a political act’ at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode on Saturday.

Ms. Manimekalai’s latest documentary

White Van Stories as well as her feature film

Senkadal are on the ethnic issues in Sri Lanka.

White Van Stories , which was mostly shot underground, is on the enforced disappearances on the island nation where anyone found to be a threat is abducted by the State in a white van, not to be seen again. “Around 10,000 people have disappeared over the last 30 years, but the world outside still knows of Sri Lanka only as a tourist destination,” Ms. Manimekalai said.

N-E-Lankan parallels

She even found parallels between the situation in Sri Lanka and the one in North East India. “The very existence of Irom Sharmila shows that the situation is far from normal in Manipur. People disappear along the borders of India also, but these incidents do not reach the outer world. Mainstream media are not concerned. However, news leaks out through video clippings by a community TV in Manipur, while in Sri Lanka they are made by the soldiers themselves,” Ms. Manimekalai said.

The movie

Senkadal was denied clearance by the Censor Board of India for its political remarks. However, Ms. Manimekalai fought for it at the Appellate Tribunal and finally got it cleared with an adult certificate.

Leena Manimekalai says her work is a political act

The poet and film-maker focuses on gender politics.