Kutty Japanin Kuzhandaigal / 1990 / 63' / Tamil / India
✦ 16 mm Screening
A documentary about the Sivakasi region known for its artisanal industries and for providing the national supply of matchboxes, fireworks, and gaudy calendars. Known locally as ‘Mini-Japan’, Sivakasi is also one of the worst exploiters of child labour anywhere in India: 70% of its workforce are prepubertal girls. The film juxtaposes these unsavoury labour conditions with Sivakasi’s association with ‘popular art’.
Director(s) : Chalam Bennurkar
Producer(s) : Janamadhyam
Cinematographer(s) : R. V. Ramani
Writer(s) : Chalam Bennurkar
Editor(s) : Jacob Thottathil, Amitabh Chakraborthy
Sound : Suresh Rajamani
Chalam Bennurkar was an Indian documentary filmmaker, film activist, and director based in Bengaluru. He was associated with the CIEDS Collective and Vimochana, and worked at the intersection of filmmaking, activism, and grassroots organising.
He initiated Janamadhyam, a screening network and production infrastructure for grassroots action. He also created Sakshi, a platform for young independent documentary filmmakers to showcase their work through the Bangalore Film Society and Odessa in Kerala.
