செங்கடல் (2011)

Sengadal (English: The Dead Sea) is the first full length feature film of Leena Manimekalai, who also stars in the film. Several local actors form the rest of the cast. Produced by Janaki Sivakumar under the banner of Tholl Paavai Theatres, the film features cinematography by M J Radhakrishnan and editing by Sreekar Prasad. The film was initially banned by Regional Censor Board and then after several months of legal struggle with the Appellate Tribunal Authorities at New Delhi, CBFC had cleared the film without any cuts but with an Adult certification by July 2011.

Leena Manimekalai’s Sengadal is the only Tamil film to be screened at the 42nd International Film Festival of India. Sengadal has also won the NAWFF award at Tokyo for the Best Asian Film.

Synopsis

On the Indian mainland, across the waters, arrive the Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka, an unending stream of people dispossessed of their lands and Gods, to an uncertain future with ever receding hopes of return. Dhanushkodi, the Indo-Sri Lankan border town, is the crucible wherein History is brewing this concoction of defeated lives and exhausted dreams. Hope is a big word and resistance but a tired expression. Three decades of struggle for a nation is washed out, a race obliterated.