28th Social Justice Film Festival
17-21 September 2025, Chennai
Organised by MARUPAKKAM
Curated by Amudhan RP
Screening Schedule :
17 Sep : Discovery Book Palace, KK Nagar; 11 am to 5 pm
18 Sep : Dr Ambedkar Govt Arts College, Vyasarpadi; 10 am to 1 pm
19 Sep : Chennai Institute of Journalism, Kotturpuram; 11 am to 5 pm
20 Sep : Agaram Foundation, T Nagar; 11 am to 5 pm
21 Sep : Periyar Thidal, Veppery, 11 am to 5 pm
Detailed Schedule (subject to changes)
17 September; Discovery Book Palace, KK Nagar ; 11 am to 5 pm
11 am to 1 pm
Daddu Zindabad (Long Live Grandpa)
Dir : Samar Jain; 21 min; SF; India
In a village entrenched in caste discrimination, Vishnu must defy oppressive traditions and power structure to fulfil his grandfather’s dying wish—to be cremated in the village cremation ground, controlled by the Upper Caste.
Log Kya Kahenge
Dir : Rafina Khatun; 40 min; Doc; India
In Ahmedabad, India - a city scarred by the 2002 riots - Gulnaz breaks barriers as a community radio jockey.
A Woman Resurrected from the Sea
Dir : Nadeem Noushad; 26 min; Doc; India
Kadal Uyirppu (A woman resurrected from the sea) is a poignant documentary that weaves together documentary realism and fictional storytelling. The movie is based on K. P. Ramanunni’s novel Sufi Paranja Kadha (The Story Told by Sufi). The novel is set against the socio-religious backdrop of Ponnani, a coastal fishing village in Kerala. The story revolves around Karthi, a Nair girl who fell in love with a Muslim man named Mamutti, got married to him, and converted to Islam. But after her conversion, the girl had a desire to see Goddess Machilamma (a local deity) and her husband built a small temple near his Muslim household. Several communal conflicts arose due to this incident.
When She Stares
Dir : Shimna; 11 min; SF; India
The lust and greed of/in male gaze turn objects into preys and playthings. Blind to the mind and soul, its focus is on the female body, constantly predating upon it, eager to grab, unrobe, ravish and rape. Any kind of tenderness, love and mutuality is alien to it. But the moment the gaze is returned, the male game is upset.
Untitled - a Poetic Resistance
Dir : Syed Ahmad Rufai; 17 min; Doc; India
Set in McLeod Ganj - the spiritual refuge of the Dalai Lama and the heart of the Tibetan exile community - this film journeys through verses that echo with resistance, remembrance, and resilience. Through the poignant poetry of exiled Tibetan poets, it unravels intimate narratives of political struggle, imprisonment, and the quiet defiance of survival.
2 pm to 5 pm
Amma's Pride
Dir : Shiva Krish; 21 min; Doc; India
Amma's Pride chronicles Valli's trials and tribulations as she watches her trans daughter Srija fall in love, marry, and fight for state and societal recognition of her marriage in a traditional small town in Tamil Nadu. When societal pressures push Srija’s marriage to the edge, Valli clings to the hope of a miracle.
Dalit Subbaiah
Dir : Gridharan MKP; 85 min; Doc; India
Dalit Subbaiah - Voice of the Rebels is an intimate and powerful documentary tracing the life, struggles, and uncompromising spirit of Dalit Subbaiah — a fearless revolutionary artist, writer, and activist who dared to stand against oppression and caste injustice by his powerful tool of music.
Cuando llegue la neblina
Dir: Laurentia Genske; 23:23 min; Documentary; Germany
The short film "Cuando llegue la neblina" (When the Fog Comes) portrays the lives of people from the Mexican border city of Tijuana. Through a combination of photographs, animations, and audio recordings, the film delves into the daily realities of four individuals who have different connections to the Mexican-American border.
The Taste of Honey
Dir: Mohammad Rakibul Hasan, Fabeha Monir; 15:00 min; Documentary; Bangladesh
A resilient tiger widow from the world’s largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans (Bangladesh), Shorbanu Khatun, grapples with the relentless impacts of climate change, struggling to provide for her children while preserving the endangered traditions of honey and Gol leaf collecting amidst a world of increasing storms, salinity, and societal ostracism.
GIRLS: WOMEN TOO EARLY
Dir: Paolo Patruno; 13:29 min; Documentary; Cameroon
Christine, 17-years-old, got married when she was 15, lost her first child when she was 16, and she is now seven months pregnant. Rose, 16-years-old, is currently breastfeeding first child of five months. Christine dropped out of school in secondary two and Rose dropped out at the end of primary six, both due to a lack of financial availability from their families. Christine and Rose live in a very remote and rural area in the tropical highland forest in Cameroon, making their living through farming cocoa. They represent thousands of teenage mothers in Cameroon.
18 September; Dr Ambedkar Govt Arts College, Vyasarpadi
10 am to 1 pm
Oh Butterly
Dir :Prathap Bhaskardas; 8 min; SF; India
A young woman stands on the threshold of marriage, unaware that the man chosen for her is hiding a truth he cannot speak—he is gay. Oh Butterfly captures the fragile bond between them, where silence, secrets, and societal pressure intertwine.
The Corpse Taker
Dir : Rithin Ravindran, Shemin Saidu; 26 min; Doc; India
Caring for dead bodies is the sign of our emergence from the order of nature into culture. And when we look into our society, all religions and faiths have different types of cremation and funeral processes. But do we show the same dignity towards orphan corpses? In this documentary, we introduce Vinu, a corpse taker from Aluva, Kerala who helps the state machinery for the burial of such orphan corpses.
Kunjan
Dir : Anil Parakad; 15 min; SF; India
Academy Award-winning professor Sivan faces caste abuse from writer. He remembers the caste abuse he received from his friends, teachers and society during his youth. He reminds his daughter that caste doesn't change quickly and that she has to learn and rise to the top.
Salavai
Dir : Kiruba Sagar; 23 min; SF; India
Punishing the Professor
Dir : Aayna; 28 min; Doc; India
P. Senrayaperumal was forced to drop out of school to play his part in the caste-bound genre of Raja Rani Attam theatre. He and his brothers spent their childhood playing female roles — enduring slurs, sexual harassment, and bearing the burden of tradition. At age 23, he made a desperate gamble to reclaim education all by himself, even while dancing through nights to survive. He did earn the education that he was systemically denied. He got a PhD on the folk tradition he had been practising, all the while holding on to the promise of higher education in the country. A promise that, in his case, was tragically short-lived.
Ore Vaathiyam
Dir: Karthika P; 5:51 min; Animation films; India
A documentary which unveils the challenges faced by mridangam makers across generations, portraying a quiet evolution towards positive change within their craft's cultural legacy.
Seaside
Dir : Iniya Vasanthan; 18.50 min; Documentary; India
Kasimedu fish market is one of the major fish markets in Chennai. It is a very lively place all day. From boats bringing fish to people buying it fresh directly from there, everything is quite interesting to observe. Kadaloram(seaside) is a short documentary film made on that place and the people.
Messi, Maradona & Tremenheere
Dir: Logesh S; 20:33 min; Documentary; India
In Vadakarai village of Tamil Nadu, Tremenheere Sports Academy, a budding football academy strives to set a stage for school going children to break the endless cycle of bonded agricultural labour.
19 September; Chennai Institute of Journalism, Kotturpuram; 10 am to 4 pm
10 am to 1 pm
Thiruvarangar - the deity singers
Dir : Shaji A John; 40 min; Doc; India
The documentary “Thiruvarangar - The Deity Singers”, explores how the caste system in India attempts to confine communities to their traditional occupations in the name of art and rituals. It follows the journey of Vasu Chami the leader of the Paana community in Ottapalam, as he navigates these societal pressure
Salavai (Repeat)
Dir : Kiruba Sagar; 23 min; SF; India
Punishing the Professor (Repeat)
Dir : Aayna; 28 min; Doc; India
The Unjust and Beyond
Dir : Ratheesh Mon Panampatta; 22.43 min; Documentary; India
The Unjust and Beyond is a concise documentary that explores the political aspects of the disproportionate landslides susceptibility faced by individuals belonging to the "lower" castes and social classes.
2 pm to 5 pm
White Slam - a documentary and Carrom
Dir Satish Ganapathy; 31.35 min; India;
Only if the Baby Cries...
Dir: Shadab Farooq; 14:58 min; Documentary; India
In the world's only deaf-mute village where silence reigns, tension mounts as Misra Khatoon approaches childbirth. The villagers surround her home and beat drums seeking a response from the newborn.
Under The Scorching Sun
Dir: Prathap Ramamurthy, Jagannath Radhakrishnan; 17:08 min; Documentary; USA; 2023
A short documentary that shows the toil of everyday workers in Chennai, India, under extreme heat.
Dalit Subbaiah (Repeat)
Dir : Gridharan MKP; 85 min; Doc; India
Amma's Pride (Repeat)
Dir : Shiva Krish; 21 min; Doc; India
20 September; Agaram Foundation, T Nagar; 11 am to 5 pm
11 am to 1 pm
Ricard Dance
Dir : Shihab Ongallur; 55 min; Doc; India
“Ricard Dance,” is a fading art form of South India. These artists, once as popular as movie stars, now find themselves facing the reality that they may soon be taking down the stage forever.
This is the story of kochu, kamaru, santhosh, and so many other unknown performers who roamed across Kerala, entertaining people and living out thousands of characters on stage, for decades.
Garment Kelsa
Produced by Cividep India; 45 min; Doc; India
This documentary tells the story of women in India’s export garment factories, a
small but vital segment of the country’s 12–15 million garment workforce. The film
captures everyday realities from Bengaluru’s factories that echo across hubs like NCR and Tiruppur. These women help drive global fashion supply chains, yet face low pay, unsafe conditions, and social discrimination.
2 pm to 5 pm
Untitled - a Poetic Resistance (Repeat)
Dir : Syed Ahmad Rufai; 17 min; Doc; India
The Story of Yuvraj and Shajahan
Dir : Santhosh Ram; 25 min; SF; India
Yuvraj, a young village boy feels drawn to bangle seller, Shahjahan, They Meet in a secluded place. They share their stories with each other. Yuvraj and Shahjahan lead a duel life in a society that detests homosexuality. They depart on the note of meeting again.
Daddu Zindabad (Long Live Grandpa) - (Repeat)
Dir : Samar Jain; 21 min; SF; India
Log Kya Kahenge (Repeat)
Dir : Rafina Khatun; 40 min; Doc; India
A Woman Resurrected from the Sea (Repeat)
Dir : Nadeem Noushad; 26 min; Doc; India
Thiruvarangar (Repeat)
Dir : Shaji A John; 40 min; Doc; India
21 September; Periyar Thidal, Veppery ; 11 am to 5 pm
11 am to 1 pm
A Good Wife
Dir : Anuradha Bansal ; 90 min; Doc; India
A Good Wife’ is a deeply personal exploration of womanhood, marriage, and freedom within an Indian Marwari Hindu community. As the filmmaker navigates questioning the establishment of marriage in her own setup, she confronts the rigid ideals of a ‘virtuous wife’ imposed by family and tradition. Through intimate filmmaking, she challenges these expectations, exposing contradictions and seeking personal liberation. This film is her attempt to reclaim agency, question inherited beliefs, and spark dialogue on autonomy and identity.
When She Stares (Repeat)
Dir : Shimna; 11 min; SF; India
Untitled - a Poetic Resistance (Repeat)
Dir : Syed Ahmad Rufai; 17 min; Doc; India
2 pm
The Story of Yuvraj and Shajahan (Repeat)
Dir : Santhosh Ram; 25 min; SF; India
Formless Form
Dir : Debaranjan; 60 min; Doc; India
Casteism, in India, is deeply rooted in the social hierarchy based on birth and occupation, and with Brahmins it was at the top. This system fosters discrimination, prejudice and social exclusion. In course of time, various religious movements and teachings have arisen across the subcontinent to abolish such oppressive caste system and advocate for equality.
Sathyapullu (The Magical Grass)
Dir : Ramdas Kadavallur; 67 min; Doc; India
The alarming unsavoury developments in the socio-political milieu of India in the recent years have dented the confidence of a multitude of Indians who cherish peace and camaraderie.A nation that always upheld secular and democratic values since independence, a large chunk of the people is deeply concerned about the recent attacks on these much cherished ideals! The documentary is a journey through the mindscape of a young women, who is earnestly longing for the true secularism and coexistence of different communities in India.
4.30 pm : Closing ceremony
