Malini Jeevarathnam

Last updated

Malini Jeevarathnam
Born
Occupation(s) Actor, Film director
Years active2017–present

Malini Jeevarathnam is an Indian documentary film director, who primarily works in Tamil Nadu. They are known for their acting and documentary work on LGBTQ+ issues.

Contents

Personal life

Malini Jeevarathnam  was born in Paramakudi, Tamil Nadu Ramanathapuram district. They studied Master's in Media Arts from Loyola College, Chennai and assisted Pa. Ranjit on his movie Madras (film) , and in 2016 film Aruvi , directed by Arun Prabu Purushothaman. [1] [2]

Career

Inspired by Ranjith's progressive ideas and the support from the film crew, they decided to come out as a lesbian, a decision that profoundly influenced their personal and professional life. [3] They have done multiple short films around queerness in Tamil.

Ladies and Gentlewomen

With this motivation, they made their directorial debut with the 2017 documentary Ladies and Gentlewomen which talked about love, life, and suicide among lesbians. This venture was supported and produced by Pa. Ranjith. [4]

This documentary has received Best Documentary awards at the Norway Tamil Film Festival, nominated for an award at the Pune International Queer Film Festival Out & Loud, and received many other accolades around the world. [5] [6]

Why So Straight?

Why So Straight is a short film that briefly explores the life of a queer artist named Ameya, from Pune. Despite its brevity, the film excels in instilling hope and showcasing sensitivity to uniqueness and gender fluidity. [7] Balancing love, celebration, and acceptance with pain, rage, and estrangement, it offers a nuanced portrayal of queer experiences.

The film premiered at Medai Stage in Chennai earlier this year during a private event organized by filmmaker and producer Pa Ranjith. [8]

In 2023, they had also launched their production house Veytikaari Productions. [9] In the same year, they also worked as a script consultant for Kaadhal Embadhu Podhu Udamai [10] which talks about a lesbian relationships.

Activism

They have been a vocal activist in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Kerala queer activism spaces. They identify as gender fluid, non-binary person, and prefer they/them pronouns. [11] They have been part of multiple protests and panels in and around the country. [12]

Filmography

Actor

List of actor credits for Malini Jeevarathnam
YearFilmRoleLanguageNotes
2024 Inspector Rishi ChithraTamilWeb Series
2024Love And Let LoveNo DialogueShort Film

As director

YearFilmNotes
2017 Ladies and Gentlewomen Documentary Films about love, life, and suicide among lesbians.
2022Why So Straight?The story of a queer artist called Ameya Hemmadi.
2024Kaadhal Embadhu Podhu UdamaiWorked as a Script Consultant

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vadivelu</span> Indian actor, comedian and playback singer (born 1960)

Kumaravadivel Natarajan known professionally as Vadivelu, is an Indian actor, comedian and occasional playback singer, having acted mainly in Tamil cinema. He had at least 290 credits to his filmography. He was a recipient of several awards including two Filmfare Award South and six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Chennai</span>

The culture of Chennai, popularly called the "Gateway to the South India", is distinct from that of any other Indian city. Being a cosmopolitan hub, the city's culture reflects its diverse population that has resulted in a unique blend. Though a modern metropolis, Chennai continues to be traditional and conventional in certain ways. Traditional music, dance and all other art forms of Tamil Nadu are very popular in the city. One can find a peculiar cultural blend in city, from traditional foods to fast foods, from ancient temple architecture to modern high-rises, and from classical music and dance to the growing nightlife.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R. Sarathkumar</span> Indian actor and politician (born 1954)

Ramanathan Sarathkumar is an Indian actor, politician and former bodybuilder who works predominantly in Tamil cinema in addition to Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films. He has acted in more than 145 films and won two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards South.

<i>Thagapansamy</i> 2006 Indian film

Thagapansamy is a 2006 Indian Tamil-language action film directed by Shivashanmughan and produced by Tiruchi Gopalji. The film stars Prashanth and Pooja, while Namitha, Karunas and Vincent Asokan played other supporting roles. Featuring music composed by Srikanth Deva, the film had a delayed release on 28 December 2006 after going through production problems.

<i>Pasupathi c/o Rasakkapalayam</i> 0000 Indian film

Pasupathi c/o Rasakkapalayam is a 2007 Indian Tamil language film directed by K. Selva Bharathy. It stars Ranjith, Sindhu Tolani, and Vivek. The film was released on 5 October 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Tamil Nadu</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Tamil Nadu are the most progressive among all states of India. Tamil Nadu was the first state in India to introduce a transgender welfare policy, wherein transgender individuals can access free gender affirmation surgery in government hospitals and various other benefits and rights. The state was also the first to ban forced sex-selective surgeries on intersex infants, and also the first state to include an amendment in its state police guidelines that expects officers to abstain from harassing the LGBTQIA+ community and its members. The state also became the first to ban conversion therapy as well as the first to introduce LGBTQIA+ issues in school curricula.

Chennai has LGBTQIA cultures that are diverse concerning- socio-economic class, gender, and degree of visibility and politicisation. They have historically existed in the margins and surfaced primarily in contexts such as transgender activism and HIV prevention initiatives for men having sex with men (MSM) and trans women (TG).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pa. Ranjith</span> Indian film director, film producer and screenwriter (born 1982)

Pa. Ranjith is an Indian film director, film producer and screenwriter who primarily works in Tamil cinema. He made his directorial debut with the 2012 romantic comedy Attakathi, before earning positive reviews for his second film, the political action-drama Madras (2014). He wrote and directed the action-drama films Kabali in 2016 and Kaala in 2018, both starring Rajinikanth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orinam</span>

Orinam is a non-funded, social, and activist collective that works to enhance understanding of alternate sexualities and gender identities among families, communities and society. It was founded in 2003 in Chennai under the name MovenPick and is one of the oldest collective of its kind in India. People affiliated with Orinam are from or trace their ancestry to the following geo-cultural: People of Tamil Origin from Tamil Nadu, India. Orinam provides a platform for creative expression, personal and social commentary by Queer people of Tamil Origin and of Indian Origin primarily. Orinam also acts as a local support group in Chennai for the queer community. Orinam also partners with the city-, state- and national initiatives around decriminalisation of homosexuality by amending Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and LGBTQ rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chennai Rainbow Pride</span> LGBTIQA+ Pride March

The Chennai Rainbow Pride March has been held by members of Tamil Nadu LGBTIQA+ communities every June since 2009. The pride march is organised under the banner Tamil Nadu Rainbow Coalition, which is a collective of LGBT individuals, supporters, and organizations working on human rights and healthcare for the LGBTQIA community. The Pride March occurs on the final Sunday of June every year. The Pride March is usually preceded by a month-long series of events organized by NGOs and organizations to inculcate awareness and support for the LGBTQ community, such as panel discussions, film screenings, and cultural performances. The Chennai Vaanavil Suyamariyadhai Perani a.k.a. Chennai Rainbow Self-Respect March is known for being inter-sectional in nature as it addresses issues with multiple axes such as caste, class, religion coupled with gender discrimination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mime Gopi</span> Indian stage and film actor

Mime Gopi is an Indian stage and film actor who has appeared in predominantly Tamil films including Madras (2014), Kathakali (2016), and Kabali (2016). He is also the winner of the reality cooking show Cooku with Comali.

Chennai International Queer Film Festival is a three-day LGBT- event that usually takes places on the last weekend of July as a part of the city's pride events. The main organizers are SAATHII and Orinam in partnership with Goethe-Institut, Chennai. The other volunteers include various community groups and NGOs, including Nirangal, East-West Center for Counselling, and RIOV. The last day is usually performances along with a panel discussion, usually to discuss and bring out the challenges faced by community members.

Ladies and Gentlewomen is a Tamil language, Indian documentary by Malini Jeevarathnam and produced by Pa. Ranjith. It is about love, life, and suicide among lesbians. The documentary also features a "Lesbian Anthem" for which the music was composed by Justin Prabhakaran and lyrics were penned by Kutti Revathi and Damayanthi.

The following list is a partially completed compilation of events considered to have a profound effect on the welfare or image of Tamil sexual minorities. The use of bold typeface indicates that the event is widely considered to be landmark:

<i>Irandam Ulagaporin Kadaisi Gundu</i> 2019 Indian Tamil-language film

Irandam Ulagaporin Kadaisi Gundu, also known simply as Gundu (transl. Bomb), is a 2019 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Athiyan Athirai. The film stars Dinesh and Anandhi. Produced by Pa. Ranjith under his banner Neelam Productions, the film focuses on the fictional story, inspired from the true events from World War II. The film has cinematography handled by Kishore Kumar, while the music is composed by Tenma. Released on 6 December 2019, the film received critical acclaim from critics and audiences.

<i>Sarpatta Parambarai</i> 2021 film by Pa. Ranjith

Sarpatta Parambarai, or simply Sarpatta, is a 2021 Indian Tamil-language period sports action film directed by Pa. Ranjith, who also co-produced the film under his banner Neelam Productions, along with Shanmugam Dhakshanaraj of K9 Studios. The film stars Arya, John Kokken, Shabeer Kallarakkal, Dushara Vijayan, Pasupathy, Anupama Kumar and Sanchana Natarajan. Set in the 1970s, the film revolves around a clash between two clans namely Idiyappa Parambarai and Sarpatta Parambarai in North Chennai, which also showcases the boxing culture in the locality and the politics involved in it.

Sowmya Rajendran is an Indian writer. She is the winner of Sahitya Akademi's 2015 Bal Sahitya Puraskar and has written over 20 books. She has written young adult fiction, picture books and inspirational books for children.

<i>Kuthiraivaal</i> 2021 psychological thriller drama thriller film by J. Sabarish

Kuthiraivaal also spelt as Kuthirai Vaal is a 2021 Indian Tamil-language psychological drama film written by G. Rajesh and co-directed by Manoj Leonel Jahson and Shyam Sunder on their directorial debuts. The film's background score has been composed by Martin Visser and the songs composed by Pradeep Kumar. The film stars Kalaiyarasan, Anjali Patil, Sowmya Jaganmurthy, Anand Sami and Chetan. The film consists of magic realism elements such as man with a horse tail, horse without a tail and a sky with both sun and moon appearing simultaneously at the same time. The film is deemed as one of only few Tamil films to have used the concept of magical realism besides Aalavandhan. It became the first Indian film to have been nominated for international premiere at the Berlin critics film festival. The film is loosely inspired from Franz Kafka's novel The Metamorphosis. The film was scheduled to be released in theatres on 4 March 2022, but got postponed to 18 March 2022. The film received mixed reviews from critics and audience.

The Vaanam Art Festival is an annual cultural event organized by filmmaker Pa Ranjith's Neelam Cultural Centre. The festival aims to celebrate Dalit culture, promote social awareness, and provide a platform for artistic expression. It takes place in April, coinciding with Dalit History Month and the birth month of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

<i>RDX: Robert Dony Xavier</i> (soundtrack) 2023 soundtrack album by Sam C. S.

RDX: Robert Dony Xavier is the soundtrack to the 2023 film of the same name directed by Nahas Hidayath and produced by Sophia Paul under Weekend Blockbusters, starring Shane Nigam, Antony Varghese and Neeraj Madhav. The soundtrack featured original songs composed by Sam C. S. and lyrics written by Manu Manjith, and rap numbers performed by Fejo and Neeraj Madhav. The soundtrack was released under the Saregama label on 8 September 2023.

References

  1. Rajendran, Sowmya (18 January 2018). "Misconception that only cities have lesbian women: Malini on 'Ladies and Gentlewomen'". The News Minute. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  2. "Malini Jeevarathnam: On Self-respect, Queerness and Finding her Feet in Chennai". Silverscreen India. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  3. Ayyappan, Aathira (30 October 2019). "Why does queer filmmaker Malini Jeevarathnam obsessively make movies on LGBT issues?". EdexLive. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  4. Vijaykumar, Vaishali (7 September 2020). "Finding life in a Queer-friendly city". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  5. Rajendran, Sowmya (18 January 2018). "Misconception that only cities have lesbian women: Malini on 'Ladies and Gentlewomen'". The News Minute. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  6. "Hearts that don't follow rules". The Hindu. 13 February 2018. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  7. Mirra, Jaya Gomathi (28 July 2022). "Neon Lights and a Revolution of Joy: On the documentary Why So Straight?". Cinema Express. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  8. ""குயர் படங்கள் அடுத்த 10 ஆண்டுகளில் அதிகம் வரும்" - மாலினி ஜீவரத்தினம்". BBC News தமிழ் (in Tamil). Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  9. Jain, Rupam (22 June 2023). "Ticket 9 — Queer Art Festival celebrates the Pride Month". Indulgexpress. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  10. Sundar, Anusha (28 June 2023). "Pride Month: Love, queer and beyond". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  11. "Chennai: She, he, ze, or xi? Pronouns make a difference". The Times of India. 21 October 2020. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  12. IANS (8 June 2023). "American Centre in Chennai to hold panel discussion on LGBTQI+ community on June 10". www.dtnext.in. Retrieved 3 July 2024.