'I DAMAGED MY VOICE ON PURPOSE

'Pandi was promised something, that is not happening, so his anger is not of a villain's.' That's how all normal humans would react, or they would stay silent.' 'Our violence is our silence. So in this world, everybody is innocent.'

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In January 2021, P S Vinothraj premiered his indie Tamil film Koozhangal (Pebbles) at the Rotterdam International Film Festival.

The film stunned the festival’s audience and the jury gave it the top Tiger Award.

After traveling to many film festivals, Koozhangal -- the story of a father and his son in search of the boy’s mother -- was submitted as India’s best international film Oscar entry.

A few weeks ago, Vinothraj premiered his new film, Kottukkaali (The Adamant Girl) at the Berlinale. Made with the similar independent spirit, Kottukkaalli stars Soori Muthuchamy and Anna Ben.

Like his first film, Kottukkaali is also set in one day. Meena (Ben), a young college student, is engaged to marry Pandi (Muthuchamy). But she falls in love with another man, who belongs to a lower caste.

Pandi and Meena’s families try to convince Meena to change her mind. But when she refuses to marry Pandi, 12 members of the two families travel first to a deity and then to a seer with the hope to change the adamant girl’s mind. On the long journey, with an entourage of three motorcycles, an autorickshaw, and a rooster at the back, the travelers encounter all sorts of events, including a terrifying bull who is blocking the small rural road. All the way, Meena does not speak a word, which irritates Pandi and his family.

Kottukkaali is a prime example of terrific film-making in India. It is gripping and funny, even though it deals with serious subjects like patriarchy and superstition.

In Berlin, Aseem Chhabra spoke to Vinothraj, Muthuchamy and the film’s sound designer Suren G about the making of the film.