A documentary that seeks to explore caste-related crimes in the State, and features a conversation between teenagers and Udumalaipettai Kausalya, whose husband was a victim of caste atrocity, is to be released here on Wednesday.
Directed by Geeta Ilangovan, the film, titled Jaathigal Irukkedi Papa - III (Caste still exists, my child!), is 27-minutes-long and features Ms. Kausalya, a survivor of caste-related violence, sharing her experiences with teenagers.
“Though Bharathi sang Jaathigal Illayadi, Papa! long ago, caste-related discrimination and crimes continue to affect our society to this day. Our documentary aims to educate teenagers about caste-related violence through Kausalya’s voice so as to share a first-hand experience,” says Ms. Ilangovan.
The film is the third in a series of documentaries aimed at exposing teenagers to the prevailing caste-related discrimination in various occupations. The first two films introduced teenagers to caste-related discrimination and how casteism continues to linger in certain occupations, especially among sanitary workers.
“The teenagers who are in conversation with me in the film stayed with me for two days, and after becoming friends, on the third day, were told about caste-related crimes and how I was a survivor. Though they already knew about caste-related discrimination, it was the first time they heard about caste-related murder,” says Ms. Kausalya, who is currently working as an assistant for a health inspector in the Health department.
Her husband Shankar, a Dalit, was hacked to death in broad daylight in March last year, at the age of 22, in what is suspected to be a case of ‘honour killing’.
The first copy of the film would be released by CPI (M) State Secretary G. Ramakrishnan, and received by ‘Evidence’ Kathir, at the Quaide Milleth International Academy of Media Studies at 4.30 pm here on Wednesday.
