Maadathy,[1] also known internationally as Maadathy: An Unfairy Tale, is a 2019 Indian-Tamil language folklore drama film directed by Leena Manimekalai. The film stars Ajmina Kassim, Patrick Raj, Semmalar Annam and Arul Kumar in the lead roles.
The film received a positive critical response and was premiered at the Busan International Film Festival 2019.[2] The film later got released in the OTT platform Neestream globally on 24, June 2021.[3]
Plot
The film is set against 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 sociohistoric 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 vannaar caste group and how she came to be immortalized as their local deity, Maadathy.
Cast
- Ajmina Kassim as Yosana[4]
- Patrick Raj as Panneer
- Semmalar Annam as Veni[4]
- Arul Kumar as Sudalai[4]
Critical reception
A critic from The News Minute reviewed "It's rare to see a film where the male body is subjected to the female gaze".[5] 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".[6]
Awards
- World Premiere, Busan International Film Festival, October 2019.
- India Premiere, International Competition, Kolkata International Film Festival, November 2019.
References
- ^ "With Maadathy — An Unfairy Tale, Leena Manimekalai skewers the blindness of dominant castes to oppression". Firstpost. 15 November 2019.
- ^ Joseph, Ashish Ittyerah (7 September 2019). "Maadathy was a real testing ground: Leena Manimekalai". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ "Streaming date of Leena Manimekalai's Maadathy out". Cinema Express.
- ^ a b c S, Srivatsan (24 June 2021). "'Maadathy — An Unfairy Tale' movie review: The ghost of Yosana and the duality of being a woman" – via www.thehindu.com.
- ^ "'Maadathy: An Unfairy Tale': This Leena Manimekalai film shows an ugly caste reality". The News Minute. 11 November 2019.
- ^ "'Maadathy: An Unfairy Tale' film review - A blazing, poignant tale of terror". The New Indian Express.