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‘Uchithanai Muharnthal’ moves Tamil cinema audiences in UK

Photograph uchithanaimuharnthaal.com

Based on the true story of a 13 year old Tamil girl, Punithavathy, who was brutally gang raped by Sri Lankan army officers in her home town of Batticaloa, the film 'Uchithanai Muharnthal', has moved audiences in London, with its portrayal of the persecution of the Eelam Tamil nation, through the horrors faced by one girl.

Directed by Pugazhendi Thangaraj, and featuring actors of the Tamil Nadu film industry, such as Sathyaraj, Seeman, Nasser, Manivannan and Sangeetha, the film offers a candid portrayal of life before and after the end of the armed conflict in May 2009.

The soundtrack, created by the music director, D Imaan, working with the widely respected song-writer, Kaasi Ananthan, was released at an opening event in the UK, July of last year.

Speaking at the music launch event, cast and crew explained their motivation for working on the film.

Music director, D. Imaan:

"Composing the music and singing for ‘Uchithanai Muharnthal’ is a small contribution of mine to the Eelam Tamil community, and I will continue to take part in projects that benefit Eelam Tamils".

Director Pugazhendi Thangaraj:

"When Muthukumar set him self alight, 200,000 Tamils out of the 300,000 Tamils in London, took part in a demonstration. I saw videos of babies in buggies, wearing hats to keep them warm in the cold weather."

"I thought to myself then that out of 70 milllion Tamils in Tamil Nadu, if only half of them took part in a demonstration then we could have put a stop to the war".

Veteran actor Sathiyaraj:

"This is not the first time I’m visiting London, and so I do not have any desires to look around London and i am not interested in visiting any other foreign country, except for Tamil Eelam. Tamil Eelam will become the 194th country in the world and i look forward to visiting it"

Photograph uchithanaimuharnthaal.com


"Parameswaran Subramaniyam fasted for 23 days, Gopi Sivanthan walked from London to the UN in Geneva. I was worried that the 3rd generation of Tamils wouldn’t know the pain of our struggle."

"Velupillai Prabhakaran said that the next generation had to carry on the struggle, but the youth have taken it on more vigorously than previous generations."

 

Actress Sangeetha:

"When someone tells me the story line of a film I normally discuss it with my husband Krish, my family, my friends and I take a few days to make a decision. However when Pugazhendhi Thangaraj told me the story line of ‘Uchithanai Muharnthal’, tears came to my eyes, and I decided straight away that I would act in this film. I’m honoured to have been a part of this film."

Released on the 6th January, the film is rumoured to be the first in a string of films to be released this year, created by the Tamil Nadu film industry on the sufferings of the Eelam nation.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the film was released, the actress, Lakshmy, said she was "happy to be a part of the film and feels like she contributed and is thankful for the opportunity’, adding that all youths must definitely watch the thought provoking film.

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