VANCOUVER — Washington State University Vancouver will host two films by filmmaker Leena Manimekalai from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, in Multimedia Classroom Building, Room 6.
The event, sponsored by the diversity council, is free and open to the public. A discussion with Manimekalai will follow the screening.
The first film, “Mathamma,” is a 20-minute documentary that explores the practice of the Arundhati community in Mangattucheri village near Arakkonam, Chennai, (India) which offers female children to the goddess Mathamma.
Traditionally, a `Mathamma’ cannot be married to any man, but at the same time when a dedicated girl reaches puberty she is required to satisfy any man in the village who desires her. According to The Hindu online newspaper, a 2003 report revealed that more than 75 villages in India still participate in this practice.
The film’s honors include best film awards in both Paris and Norway international documentary film festivals and a silver trophy for the best documentary film in Europe Movies Festival. It was also screened at the 8th Kolkota International Film Festival in 2002 and at the IVFEST – CDIT International Video Festival in 2003.
The second film, “Parai,” is a 45-minute documentary film on the status of the Dalit population in the village of Siruthondamadevi, Tamil Nadu (India). The film exposes the injustices faced by the people of this community. “Parai” was selected for viewing at the Chicago Women in Director’s Chair International Film Festival in 2004 as well as the VIKALP International Films for Freedom, Mumbai (India).
An engineering graduate turned filmmaker, Manimekalai brings to bear the creative flair necessary for a media technician. Having scripted, directed, acted and choreographed plays in college, Manimekalai plans to channel her creative energies in the visual medium.
For more information on the Manimekalai, visit www.kanavuppattarai.com. For more information on the Mathamma practice, see The Hindu newspaper online at
https://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/11/01/stories/2003110105520100.htm or https://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/03/09/stories/2003030905370100.htm
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