Idsffk 2025: Greeshma Kuthar and Manju Priya K, Creators of ‘Namathu Chinnam?

One of the initial sequences of Namathu Chinnam? (Our symbol is?) Is set in puthuvalasal village in pudukottai district, where the Residents have deceded to boycott the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, Folling the Absence of an action to ” Such as transportation and access to clean drinking water.

A young residence takes a big gulp from a bottle of discolored water he had just drawn from a manual pump while describing the class of the waterlage, at another village inhbited by upper-caste dwellers.

A documentary about elections that begins with a Dalit Village that shuns them is justified in its IRONY, according to the 51-minute tamil documentary directed by Journalist Greeshma Kuthar and ACADEMIC Man Priya K.

Manju Priya K And Greeshma Kuthar | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Namathu Chinnam?Shot Across Tamil Nadu in the Days Leading Up to the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, was premied at the 17th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (Idsfk) as Part of Election Diary.

The documentary, produced by the center for Modern Indian Studies (Cemis), Further Explores The Manifestation of Caste Into Cultural Capital in Dravidian Politics.

“Cultural nationalism is something I have been reporting on a lot as a journey,” Says Greeshma, Who has extensively covered Politics in Different Parts of the Country Premiere.

“The discussion over the cultural capital of the brahmins is popular. Over the past few decades, the cultural capital of the intermediary castes is slowly increasing, with dravida parties Campaigning Aur Manju, pointing out the homogenisation of problems faced by people in tamil nadu by Merely raising it as a linguistic isue.

Udhayanidhi Stalin during the 2024 Lok Sabha Election Campaign | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“Every time someone wants to make a film on caste, the only task is to go to go to some has decided caste discrimination and ask them ‘what happened’ and ‘How are you feeling’. Someone from a dominant caste at the center of accumulation of caste capital, “Says Greeshma.

The duo traces this dichotomy through the emphasis on two art forms, Parai and Valli Kummi. The former is practized by dalits and the latter by the land-ozing gounder caste, who belong to the other backward classes (OBC) Category.

The Traditional Art Form Involves Playing The Drum Called Parai, Made With Wood and A Stretched Animal Membrane. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Namathu Chinnam? Exploes the gradually increasing support for Valli Kummi, A Narraty Dance Performance Telling The Story of the Goddess Valli. It has been accused of accusible cultural capital, with parties negligent its casteist nuans, say the makers.

“For instance, they make young girls take an oath that they would have marry outside their caste,” Says Greeshma Alleging That these Actions Go Unchecked Due to the Community ‘ Vote bank in the state.

Manju Says, “All this is done in the name of preserving culture and returning to their roots.”

Simultaneously, Parai Artists are exploited and underpaid for their work. The traditional art form involves playing the parai, a traditional drum crafted from wood and stretched animal skin.

“The political parties in tamil nadu are included to protect a dominant caste culture,” Says manju, Illustrate how the film argues that caste identity is involved or Overlooked on the Electoral Contest. For example, she cits the existence of ambedkar only as a caste icon with identity is Emphahsized during Elections.

The film has a powerful Sequence of a Caged Ambedkar Statue at Ramanathapuram, the site of some of the most vioilent caste crimes in the state. The Footage Shows Politicians Observing Ambedkar Jayanthi on April 14, Followed by a Retired Dalit Headmaster Saying, “Only when when babasaheb is accepted by everything, the cage will Vanish.”

Changing definitions

The film shows the recent use of ram or Ramar As a symbol in tamil nadu. It also looks at how other deities, such as muurugan and meenakshi, are evokeed by the Bharatiya Janata Party, Creating More “ICONS ROTED in Tamil Nadu”.

The makers explore the presence of female candidates in the election. In one of the sequences, a female candidate was prompted about what to say during election campaigns. “We want women leaders to emerge Organically and not as tokens,” Says manju.

Published – August 26, 2025 11:45 pm IST