Artistes, writers donate money for film

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In a novel initiative, a two-hour film in Tamil has been produced with contributions from theatre artistes and writers across the state.

The film, completed in 55 days, will be released early June. The film is based on the novel ‘Ninaivugal Alivathillai’ — penned first by Kannada writer Niranjana and translated into Tamil by P.R.

Parameshwaran. The novel is the real life story of a struggle led by four young men in Kerala against the British to get back lands for farmers.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, film director Bhagat Singh Kannan said, “This film is based on the novel, but the storyline here is about landgrabbing in cities like Chennai in the present situation.

I have framed the story as how there was a need then to fight against the British over landgrabbing, and now several multinational companies occupy huge swathes of lands and indirectly force locals with the support of the government to vacate their neighbourhoods in many cities.”

Talking about the making of the film, Mr Kannan said the film has no producer.

“Artistes who heard that the novel was being made into a film came forward to donate the money. We spent nearly `85 lakh on the movie.

All the artistes in the film are new faces and they will make a mark.”
S. Tamil Selvan of Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Association said the film would strike a chord with the youth who have the instinct to fight for the rights of their city.

“We have decided to screen this film in every district of the state,” he added.