Ilankai Tamil Sangam
Association of Tamils of Sri Lanka in the USA
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Uchithanai Muharnthaal

A Sincere Film

by IndiaGlitz, December 16, 2012

The Sri Lankan Tamils issue is always a sensitive one and any film on the same more often than not gains extra attention. Director Pughazhendhi Thangaraj, who made 'Kattrukenna Veli' earlier, on a similar theme, tries his hands on the long-drawn ethnic issue again.

The difference this time is that he has documented the struggles of a young girl who suffered at the hands of the island army. Sathyaraj, Seeman and Sangeetha are the lead actors in the film.

Professor Natesan (Sathyaraj) is a Tamil sympathizer, who speaks out for their cause and often lands in jail for his outbursts. His wife (Sangeetha) too shares his concerns.

When the couple is expecting their child, a young girl Punithavathi (Neelika) from Batticaloa lands up in their house. She has allegedly been gang raped by Lankan Army personnel on 1 March 2009.

She is just 13 but is expecting a child. At this point, a noble doctor (Lakshmi) makes an entry. Natesan, his wife and the doctor try their best to ensure the safety of the child.

Charles Anthony (Seeman), an upright police inspector helps them. One day they come to know that the young girl is suffering from AIDS. They seek the help of Dr CND (Nasser). The girl is traumatized. How they go about helping forms the rest of the story.

Neelika, the young lass is a show-stealer, without doubt, and she displays her acting talent in abundance. Sathyaraj underplays his role while Sangeetha and Seeman do an adequate job. Veteran Lakshmi also deserves kudos for her performance.

Veteran cinematographer B Kannan measures up well and lives up to expectations. D Imman's music is praiseworthy and matches the occasion.

Pughazhendhi Thangaraj deserves applause for making an honest attempt without bowing to commercial pressures. Kudos to Gemini Film Circuit for distributing such an honest venture and a sincere film...

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Storyline

Punitha (Neenika) is a 13-year old girl who lives with her parents in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. The neighbourhood and the surrounding more often remains a mute victim to the atrocities perpetrated on unarmed men, women and children by the heavily-armed Lankan army troops. As it happens, tragedy strikes Neenika’s family as she becomes the latest gang-rape victim by the Lankan soldiers. As a result, the 13-year old girl gets pregnant.

Punitha’s mother, in order to save her child from further trouble, lands up on Indian shores by illegal means. Professor Nadesan (Sathyaraj), who is under fire from the local police for offering refuge to illegal immigrants from Lanka, patronizes Punitha and her mother. He and his wife Nirmala (Sangeetha) takes the poor Punitha to Dr. Rekha (Lakshmi Ramakrishnan) for regular medical check-ups.

When Natesan and Nirmala are away on some work, Punitha disappears from their house and lands up in the clutches of some local rowdies. Fortunately for Punitha, she gets unexpected help from a security guard (Aishwarya) who saves Punitha from the custody of those rowdies and reaches her safely to Natesan’s residence. With Aishwarya’s help, Natesan brings the culprits to book. During the course of this case, Natesan befriends the local police inspector (Seeman).

The story takes a turn when Punitha is known to have HIV contracted from the gang rape. The rest of the film revolves around the struggle to save Punitha and her child. Punitha is unable to be saved in the end though, and dies. Along with her father, who dies earlier in the film as a result of being shot by the SL Army, and her mother who also dies in the film after being abducted by the SL army when looking for her husband. The end credits portray all three of them walking along the beach of Batticoloa happily.

from Wikipedia, accessed January 30, 2012

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