My Recent Work

Claustrophobia and Control: Discussions on spaces in Girls Will Be Girls by Adithya Kamesh

Girls Will Be Girls is the poignant coming-of-age story of Mira (Preeti Panigrahi), set against the backdrop of strict environments. Written and directed by Shuchi Talati, this movie is also her first feature directorial debut. Girls Will Be Girls premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the audience award and critical acclaim. It is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

'Feminist Fathima' And The Roast Of Patriarchy: A Discussion

Feminist Fathima is Fasil Muhammed’s directorial debut, a profound, satirical take on patriarchal control and religious fundamentalism. This film premiered at the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), under the International Competition category. It went on to win five awards at the festival, including the jury prize and the audience poll award. Because of its rich, multi-layered narrative and profound themes, this film calls for a detailed analysis.

Kottukkaali: A Homage to Resilience in the face of Patriarchal Oppression

The Tamil word “kottukkaali” refers to a young woman who acts according to her own will, but whose actions her family and society consider wrong. Loosely, it translates to “an adamant girl.” 

Directed by PS Vinothraj, Kottukkaali (The Adamant Girl) is the story of Meena (Anna Ben), who is taken on a pilgrimage by her family under the pretext of exorcism, to “rid” her of her rebellious behavior: falling in love with a man outside her caste and insisting that she will only marry him.

No Other Land (Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor) — A Film Review by Adithya Kamesh

No Other Land is a riveting documentary that captures the mass expulsion of the Palestinian villagers of Masafer Yatta, a community of 20 hamlets housing native Palestinians.

The film is a collaborative work by four activists—Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor. The film premiered at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival in the Panorama section, where it received critical acclaim. It went on to win the Panorama Audience Award for Best Documentary Film and the Berlinal...

Flaming Forest, Wounded Valley: Stories from Bastar and Kashmir by Freny Manecksha, Book Review – Writing Women

“A bold account of those who dare to tell their stories of struggle, and even go to jail for doing so.”

The book opens with this powerful statement, setting the tone for what the readers can expect: a deep exploration of the human spirit amidst the harsh realities of two regions most heavily militarized by the Indian State – Bastar and Kashmir.