Maadathy is a 2019 Indian-Tamil language folklore drama film written, directed and produced by Leena Manimekalai under the banner of Karuvachy films and co-produced by Piiyush Singh (Golden Ratio Films), Bhavana Goparaju, and Abinandhan Ramanujam. The film stars Ajmina Kassim, Patrick Raj, Semmalar Annam and Arul Kumar in the lead roles.
The film was premiered at Busan International Film Festival 2019 and received a positive critical response. The film later got released in the OTT platform Neestream globally on 24, June 2021.
The film is set in 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 an unique legend and these legends are often interwoven with socio-historic 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.
Directed by Leena Manimekalai
Written by Rafiq Ismail (dialogue)
Screenplay by Leena Manimekalai, Rafiq Ismail & Yavanika Sriram
Produced by Leena Manimekalai
Starring Ajmina Kassim, Patrick Raj, Semmalar Annam, Arul Kumar
Cinematography Jeff Dolen, Karthik Muthukumar & Abinandhan Ramanujam
Edited by Thangaraj Palanivel
Music by Karthik Raja
Release dates October 2019 (Busan International Film Festival) 24 June 2021 (India)
Running time 90 minutes
Country India
Language Tamil
Visitor Rating: 3 Stars