'Maranathin Madiyil Mazhalaigal', short film on Sterlite protests, screened in Chennai

Tamil short film Maranathin Madiyil Mazhalaigal, directed by Pugalenthi Thangaraj, was screened at Chennai Press Club in Chepauk on Monday, even as the city police had denied permission for the same.

The Triplicane Police had on Sunday denied permission to screen the film, which comes with a caption “Tuticorin - South India’s Bhopal?”, saying its makers had not obtained prior permission.

However, it was screened at 11 30 am on Monday as planned, after the journalists, who were present at the Press Club, questioned the police over the need to get prior permission to screen a short film. 

The film is sponsored by Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sanga Peravai.

The eight-minute short film seeks to draw similarities between the plight of the victims of Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984 and that of the children in Tuticorin, which had witnessed massive protests against Vedanta's Sterlite copper plant. “In the film, children in Tuticorin request not to lead them into a state  similar to that of the children affected by the gas leak in Bhopal. They plead to help them,” says Vellaiyan, head of Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangam. 

He said they have not sought prior permission to screen the short film in public. “If the permission is denied, we will approach the high court and screen the film to the public. This is an attempt to create awareness about the issue,” Vellaiyan said.

Director Thangaraj said the film got a good response from the journalists after its screening at the Press Club.

Earlier, a private screening of the film was stopped at Tuticorin on December 28.

Thangaraj had said that his film was based on true events. “There is no mention of a factory in Tuticorin. It is out of a concern that another Bhopal tragedy should not happen in Tuticorin. It is an appeal to officials and government in this regard,” he had told a national daily. 

According to police, the short film is expected to disturb peace in the region, which is now calm after major protests against the Sterlite plant.