Wednesday, January 17, 2024
7:00-9:00 PM
Off Campus Location
Join us for our third film in our South Asian Film Series, award-winning Attam (The Play), in partnership with the historic Michigan Theater. The screening is free and open to the public.
See the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UczdNpVB1I
Free tickets are available at https://myumi.ch/73yGj
From the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles:
On the face of it, the Arangu theater group looks like a safe space for a woman. Its sole actress, Anjali, appears to enjoy a forthright camaraderie with the rest of the twelve male members. Things are put to a test when one of the members gropes Anjali during a celebratory night out. When her partner and fellow actor Vinay finds out, he calls for a group meeting to decide on the expulsion of the accused. As doubts grow and skeletons come tumbling out, things quickly descend into chaos, with none of the men coming off with flying colors.
In his debut feature film, Anand Ekarshi, deftly deals with a critical feminist issue, but from the flip side. Instead of foregrounding the act of violation against the woman, he trains his camera on how men try to take control of the narrative in the aftermath of an offense. Ekarshi scripts Aattam like a chamber drama, builds the tension bit by bit to a taut, riveting cliffhanger of a climax. Having started his own creative journey on stage, Ekarshi draws from the world of theater and performance arts. The strong, finely tuned ensemble is led by young emerging star Zarin Shihab (The Family Man) and popular names like Vinay Forrt (Premam, Thamasha) and Kalabhavan Shajohn (Drishyam, Lucifer). Aattam is not just an authentic portrayal of patriarchy but also a stinging dissection and critique of toxicity and male entitlement.
Anand Ekarshi is a filmmaker from Kerala, India. His interest in theater and acting began at the age of 10 and grew with time into a passion for filmmaking. He credits his roots in storytelling to his time with Lokadharmi, a Kochi-based theater group where he was a part of numerous performances across India for over a decade. His recent projects include Malayalam short films, music videos, and a short stint under acclaimed filmmaker Imitaz Ali. A graduate in communicative English and a post-graduate in psychology, Anand finds inspiration for his narratives in the complexities of the human mind. Aattam (The Play) is his feature debut.
Made possible with the generous support of the Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.
See the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UczdNpVB1I
Free tickets are available at https://myumi.ch/73yGj
From the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles:
On the face of it, the Arangu theater group looks like a safe space for a woman. Its sole actress, Anjali, appears to enjoy a forthright camaraderie with the rest of the twelve male members. Things are put to a test when one of the members gropes Anjali during a celebratory night out. When her partner and fellow actor Vinay finds out, he calls for a group meeting to decide on the expulsion of the accused. As doubts grow and skeletons come tumbling out, things quickly descend into chaos, with none of the men coming off with flying colors.
In his debut feature film, Anand Ekarshi, deftly deals with a critical feminist issue, but from the flip side. Instead of foregrounding the act of violation against the woman, he trains his camera on how men try to take control of the narrative in the aftermath of an offense. Ekarshi scripts Aattam like a chamber drama, builds the tension bit by bit to a taut, riveting cliffhanger of a climax. Having started his own creative journey on stage, Ekarshi draws from the world of theater and performance arts. The strong, finely tuned ensemble is led by young emerging star Zarin Shihab (The Family Man) and popular names like Vinay Forrt (Premam, Thamasha) and Kalabhavan Shajohn (Drishyam, Lucifer). Aattam is not just an authentic portrayal of patriarchy but also a stinging dissection and critique of toxicity and male entitlement.
Anand Ekarshi is a filmmaker from Kerala, India. His interest in theater and acting began at the age of 10 and grew with time into a passion for filmmaking. He credits his roots in storytelling to his time with Lokadharmi, a Kochi-based theater group where he was a part of numerous performances across India for over a decade. His recent projects include Malayalam short films, music videos, and a short stint under acclaimed filmmaker Imitaz Ali. A graduate in communicative English and a post-graduate in psychology, Anand finds inspiration for his narratives in the complexities of the human mind. Aattam (The Play) is his feature debut.
Made possible with the generous support of the Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.
| Building: | Off Campus Location |
|---|---|
| Location: | Michigan Theater |
| Event Type: | Film Screening |
| Tags: | Asia, Film, Film Series, India |
| Source: | Happening @ Michigan from Center for South Asian Studies, International Institute, Asian Languages and Cultures |
