THREATENING VICTORY
In the Tamil cinema world even films that were produced at the expense of several crores of rupees failed miserably. In this context is it possible to believe that a ninety minutes film that was produced by the visual communication and Electronic sectors of the SRM Arts & Science College is successfully reaching the masses without even having had a glimpse of the public cinema screen.
In the seventies Vein Geese murdered 33 people in an alarming serial in the American Continent. He was a homosexual. He was in the habit of enticing youngsters and murdering them after getting his queer mental nourishment by committing sodomy on them. After a lapse of three decades this true serial has been presented in a style to suit the present day viewers.
A very strong mind state of mind is needed to speak bravely on a topic like homosexual behavior of humans in a society that regards such attempts as a grave offence. Withstanding all such inhibiting forces it is highly creditable to make a thrilling detective film embracing homosexuality.
The film has a revolutionary start where the scene depicts the dramatic shooting and killing of 4 robbers, who attempted to swindle a bank, by a security officer. This officer belongs to a unique special task force. The instantaneous discretion of this brave officer though strongly criticized by some of the higher officers have a very high regard for his ability to rise for the occasion.
In Chennai mysteriously youngsters have been disappearing very often. This unique task force was charged with the responsibility of inquiring into this strange crime. Usually in Tamil films we witness vengeance, thuggery and incredible heroism. But this film teaches us how to arrest the culprit in a scientific manner. The story reveals how a culprit is arrest and brought before the law and punished in a revolutionary way. (How ever when dealing with the servant of the main accused the usual method adopted by the local police is depicted.)
The accused is a high ranking industrialist. He abducts youngsters, subjects them to quench his homosexual thirst and murders them subsequently. He is aided and abetted by his sister and the servant. In contrast to the normal Tamil films here the culprit is identified half way through the passage of the story leaving no room for any suspense. The rest of the story reveals the police efficiently collects all the appropriate evidence and brings the culprit before the law.
College professors, lecturers, technical assistants and the students form the entire characters in this film. Seventy percent of the film has been filmed within the SRM college environment. A quality film has been produced with meagre resources. It could be regarded that the producers have successfully made a sensational film, as the ideas penetrate through a subject that is considered as something taboo in the Tamil cinema. Within a few months after the release of the film 10,000 copies have been sold. This is a claim made by professor Amrithraj. He is the head of Media & Communication of the SRM Arts & Science College. We just made a casual attempt to make a film during the summer holidays….but it has created a serious result. He says this with an elated feeling. (Please refer to the interview reproduced below).
All the journals and websites have praised this film lavishly. Elaborate criticisms, articles and news items regarding this film have appeared in 45 journals so far. Inclusive of foreign websites several media have praised the production of this film as a unique attempt.
It is said that Mr.Abirami Ramanathan the distributor of films who released Rajani’s “ Sivaji” commented:- If this story was properly made as a film for the usual cinema screen, a profit of 3 crores would have been realized by now.
“Despite the home people’s resistance for spending too much time in the college, the six months labour made way for a rich harvest”. This was a statement made by professor Balaji. He is the individual who played a major role among the characters in this film. (Please refer to his interview reproduced below).
The organization that is regarded as the second largest producer of compact discs has released this film as compact discs for the entertainment of the people. For this organization this is the only release that has not reached the cinema screen. All the Tami film fans right round the world can purchase these compact discs for their use.
The wordings found in section 377 of the Indian constitutional law regarding homosexuality has been selected as the title of this film. Contrary to the usual heros in films who eloquently act with fierce movement of their body, this film has been produced by incorporating plain dialogues and natural acting. This has attracted the audience considerably.
The accused at one stage proclaims that he is suffering from an ailment termed: “Multiple personality disorder” and fervently appeals for pardon at the climax of the trial. Despite his appeal appropriate punishment is meted. This trend elevates the standard of the film.
At the same time the sister of the accused who was aiding and abetting the accused was acquitted for want of adequate evidence. Here the director is posing a question to the effect whether an accused could be deemed innocent for want of adequate evidence? By this the director is providing a good end to the story. The entire theme of the film does not show any sudden turn or unexpected changes. This creates some sort of sluggishness. Even then the unique approach evinced in this film makes one to feel that it could be acknowledged that the director and the actors are generally victorious.
Producing a film on a topic that is not spoken of much in the society and emerging victorious paves way for the professors and the students to receive a fitting ovation.
They have now opened the doors for the TV films. It is not surprising if this becomes a gigantic business in the future.
THE ACTORS POSE A BIG CHALLENGE TO US!
(An interview with Professor Amrithraj Gnanam)
?: What made you to think to produce a film of this nature?
!: We thought that it is better to practically demonstrate something to the students than merely teaching. That is the reason for the production of this film. Experience is the purposeful way of studying. This will give permanent results.
?: What types of challenges you encountered?
!: The actors pose a big challenge. None had any proficiency or practice in acting other than Balaji. To overcome this deficiency we have to adopt a realistic acting system known as “Method Acting”. Several feared to act in a film having a theme that is not even talked by most people. This was the second problem we encountered. They thought that their good names will be blemished. Some left half way while acting. We have to beg and crave at times to bring the filming to a satisfactory end. We were lucky to make use of the resources and facilities that were available at the college to complete the film successfully.
?: How long it took to shoot the film?
!: At the beginning of May 2004 we had the religious observations
to start the film and by November 2004, 60% of the task was over. As it was the summer holidays the first half was completed quite fast. The next half of the film was done during the working days of the college. Hence it took a longer time to complete. We were particular in engaging the students without hindering their studies.
?: How much capital you invested?
!: We would have spent a total of about 2 lakhs. But we were able to realize a sum of much more than that by sale of film…… This could be regarded as a victory.
?: How was the reception for this new endeavour?
!: First we approached the television stations. They did not dare to screen the film. Then we approached the “Mosopiar” organization. They are from Bombay. They earnestly received and screened the film. Now there is a brisk sale. We will get a share of the profit. We have already received a few cheques in this regard. Up to now more than 10,000 copies have been sold.
THERE IS AN INVITATION FOR US TO JOIN THE CINEMA
(Interview with SRM Visual Communication and Electronic Media Coordinator Balaji)
?: How did you dare to create a character of this nature?
!: Unlike doing something that is usually done by others, it is quite challenging to do something extraordinary!
?: What type of challenges you encountered?
There were no data to perform a research or investigation to explore the nature of my character. No actor has hitherto evinced an acting of this nature. This was my major challenge. I sought all the needs on my own. I observed keenly some of the transgender and collected some gestures. Creating such a character conforming to certain precision without any lewdness was a difficult task for me.
?: How did you feel when acting?
!: At the start itself I made a strict order to ensure that the maximum permissible individuals inside the filming room should not exceed four. I directed even the cameraman to shoot from outside by using tele lens. All these precautions were made to ensure that I do not get even the slightest feeling that someone is near me.
?: How was the reception when the film was released?
!: In certain places they viewed the film as a performance merely done by the characters. Some were even ridiculing. In the cinema arena there was lot of praise. When Kamalhasan was making the film “Veddayaadu Vilayaadu” one of the producers suggested to him to view this one as a prerequisite for the shooting of his film mentioned above.
?: Were there any cinema prospects after this film?
!: Yes!(with much glee) I have appeared in the serial “Arasi” already in three episodes. In the film that is about to get released “Kaalaipani” I am playing the role of the College professor. I have also acted in the film “Samuthrakani”. Several chances are in the offing.
?: When will you be a hero?
!: (A loud laughter!) I am not longing for it. When one becomes a hero his general acting spree will be limited to a circle. When one plays the role of several characters, acting gets lavish benefits.
?: You have given an open end to your film- does it suggest that there is room for another film to emerge?
!: It customary to place the “Subam” and end a film in the Tamil cinema. I wanted to deviate a little from this tradition – that is why an open end was provided. However there is a plan to shoot part 2 of 377.
Forsaken by the world
- Tragedy of the Burmese people -
It is a part of the city’s quarter. The unbearably nauseating stench emanating from it would repel anyone approaching it. A stay of even a few minutes in its environs could leave one with a dread of contracting some terrible disease. It is the area that serves as the dumping ground for the city’s entire garbage collection. In the midst of this squalor stands a hut defenseless against the sun and winds. The hut is abode to a family. Life goes on there. Can you visualize such a scenario?
It is in this unimaginable hell-hole that sections of a people, forsaken by the world, are spending their lives. Bereft of any consciousness of the horrors surrounding them, they have chosen to live in the midst of the garbage dump to be free from the sounds of bombs and military atrocities. The world seems to have shut its eyes on these people who escaped from the odour of sulphur and cordite only to amidst a worse stench of rotting garbage.
This is only a miniscule picture of the miseries that an ethnic minority from Burma, now known as Myanmar, who crossed the border, are undergoing in Thailand.
Burma is a country of multi-ethnic people with each group having their own distinct identity. The Burmese who constitute the ruling class belong to the majority race. Burma is also home to the Kachin, Shan, Kareni-Kayah, Karen, Chin, Arakan-Rakhaing and Mon ethnic minorities. Burma, today, is ruled by, what all peace activists generally refer to as, a brutal military government. Aung San Suki, the Nobel Peace Laureate, is still engaged in leading the struggle against them to establish democracy. The military government is doing all it can to crush his spirit and struggle.
It is not only Democracy that the Myanmar government has emasculated in that country; it even denies the rights of the minorities in the interests of its military rule. “We are denied even the basic human rights”, says a refugee in Thailand. Militaries are the same all over the world. They say that, in Burma, one can witness the full dimensions of military rule. Rapes, abductions and summary killings are all quite commonplace in the regions of the minorities. It is said that military officials act as petty kings. Their word is law. They can do anything they please with impunity- they can violate women, they can arrest men and kill them or do anything with them. There are no judicial inquiries or punishments (the situation in Sri Lanka, under the present government, seems to be similar). To worsen the situation, the economy of Burma is in a parlous state. There are no means for minority races to engage in any occupation to earn their living. Even agriculture depends on the favors of the military and not on rains. “If they so want, they can set fire to entire rice fields when the crop is ready for harvesting”, says a farmer sadly.
It is this situation that drives lakhs of people to flee their country in search of a land where they can live free of military harassment and sound of bombs. They set foot on Thai soil only in quest of peace and security. They receive nothing else there. They brave extremely hazardous treks through mines-infested lands and mountainous jungle terrains to cross the border. According to Kul Thonglin, a UNHCR official working in the border town of Mea Sot, more than 6 lakhs of such people have sought refuge in Thailand.
There are three categories of arrivals from Burma. One category is those claiming refugee status accommodated in refugee camps. The Thai government has provided three camps for these refugees. They are restricted to remain within the bounds of the camps and are not allowed to go out of them anywhere. The second category is the economic migrants. They do not register themselves as refugees fearing that, if they do so, they cannot go out to earn a living. The internally displaced people roughing it out in the Burmese jungles along the border belong to the third category.
Thonglin says that is impossible to give accurate figures of the Burmese arrivals in Thailand due to the presence of these diverse categories and also because they, too, are constantly on the move without staying in one location. There are, however, some 140,000 refugees of whom 50,000 are accommodated in what is called the MaeLan camp sited close to the border. The inmates of this camp are housed in small huts erected with plain jungle timber and roofing of thatched leaves similar to teak leaves. They are barred from leaving the camps. They are liable to be arrested by the police if they transgress this restriction. The camp resembles a massive open prison. Although U.S.A, Canada, Britain and New Zealand have announced their readiness to take these refugees into their countries, they have not evinced interest in the offer. They only want to return to their own places in Burma. “Only about 10,000 of them have applied to resettle in a third country”, said Thonglin who has been working with the Burmese refugees for the last 8 years.
In worse plight than the refugees are the illegal migrants. They are a category not recognized by the Thailand government. Unable to earn a living in Burma, they cross the Thai border and work in the business establishments and sweat shops in the border town of Mea Sot. They are greatly exploited and also abused by their bosses, says Laurie Mount who is actively involved in the welfare of the illegals. Many Burmese youth who slip out of Mea Sot in search of income end up as sex workers in Bangkok. Young Burmese women are abducted from border towns and taken to other places by agents involved in sex trade. “World Vision” and a few public organizations are working in concern of this problem.
The Thai Govt’s indifference towards illegal migrants continues because it regards that if concessions or secure living conditions are granted to them it would trigger an influx of more such arrivals and that such cross-border migration in large numbers, in turn, could affect it’s relationship with Burma. Many NGOs, too, adopt the same stance. UNHCR confines it’s activities only with refugees. It does not involve itself with illegal migrants. Only a very few organizations watch the interests of the illegals. Among them, the Mee So Health Center, under the stewardship of Dr.Sindhiya, herself a Burmese, is an important one. It is this center that is rendering the greatest service to the illegal migrants.
There was a time when Burmese arrivals, on account of being illegal migrants, were denied treatment at the Govt. hospital in Mea Sot. The Mee-So Clinic was started in order to bring relief to a people who suffered without any basic health facilities. Today, the Clinic, having equipped itself with facilities to the level of a district hospital, is offering free service. About 200 people receive treatment here daily. An interesting feature about the patients who visit the Clinic is that they are accompanied by their whole families to avoid the possible risk of being arrested by the Police. By accommodating and feeding all of them, the Mee So Clinic is rendering an immeasurable service. For all this, the Clinic functions illegally without any sanction by the government. “A lot of illegal activities take place around Mae Sot, but they are all with humanitarian aims”, says Dr. Sindhiya.
Despite the existence of a few organizations to render such services, there is yet a class of people who haven’t attracted the attention of any. The sorrows of this wretched lot are beyond words. It is about a part of this flotsam that you read at the beginning of this report.
Many of those who sought refuge in Thailand have remained there for close upon two decades. Those who arrived as children are now adults and married. Their offspring have never set foot on Burmese soil. They know nothing of Burma. Yet, they, too, are Burmese.
