Mari Selvaraj's Pariyerum Perumal released towards the end of September, but the film is still being discussed by many for its anti-caste politics and the story it tells. Produced by Pa Ranjith's Neelam Productions, the film is about a Dalit youth, Pariyan (Kathir), who becomes friends with an upper caste woman. The film speaks of the omnipresence of caste - from educational institutions to everyday human interactions - and questions the silence over the atrocities meted out to the oppressed castes.
The team has now released the 'Pariyerum Perumal Making Video' which shows how some of the most disturbing scenes in the film were shot. From the first sequence where Pariyan's dog Karuppi is tied to the railway track and killed, to the scenes in the law college where he is harassed, his father is stripped, and the final fight sequence when he's left to die in the railway track, the 'Making' video shows how hard the team has worked to make the film as close to reality as possible. The sequences with the casteist old man who goes on a killing spree also feature in the video.
Director Mari Selvaraj, who is also the writer of the film, runs, fights, dances, and romances, as he explains to his actors what he wants from each of them. One can also catch a few glimpses of how the powerful 'Naan Yaar' song was shot.
Watch:
While the film received critical acclaim, some Dalit writers and activists felt Mari Selvaraj had adopted a Gandhian stance by not allowing Pariyan to hit back at his oppressors. The filmmaker, however, has said that his intention was to use the medium to begin a conversation with caste perpetrators and oppressors. Both Pa Ranjith and Mari Selvaraj have been vocal about caste atrocities in real life and have spoken against such oppression consistently.
Pariyerum Perumal released only in a few screens in Tamil Nadu because it clashed with Mani Ratnam's multi-starrer Chekka Chivantha Vaanam. However, good word of mouth and reviews helped the film get more screens, with the public asking theatres to increase shows. The film eventually went on to become a hit and was recently released on Amazon Prime.It was also selected for IFFI 2018.