I’ve spent years writing about Eelam Tamil politics, our losses, our resilience.
In all that time, one absence has been particularly glaring. Tamil cinema has never allowed us to be the protagonists of our own story - not in any meaningful way.
Kollywood can sometimes have an exploitative relationship with Eelam Tamils. We’ve been portrayed as sympathetic refugees at best, criminals as worst. There are a few films about us, but never have any been made by us.
‘Neelira’ is a step in a different direction.
Directed by
@someeth and produced by
@karthiksubbaraj, it is the first Eelam-centred film to be made within Kollywood and released globally. Set entirely in Jaffna and directed by an Eelam Tamil.
That is not a small thing.
The Indian censor board and wider film industry in general is still extremely problematic. But for those who grew up seeing stories told about us but never with us, this film is something to hold onto.
An Eelam story on a Kollywood platform, with a global release.
Go watch it.
A fuller piece with my thoughts is coming soon.
#Neelira #Eelam #Kollywood #TamilCinema #TamilEelam