BIFFES 2023: Vijeesh Mani’s film, Aadivaasi, about the lynching of a tribal youth to be screened on March 28

In February 2018, an intellectually challenged tribal lad from the Attapadi forest area strayed into a more populous area, where he was then beaten to death by a mob that accused him of multiple thefts in the locality. The incident had sparked widespread outrage at the time, but five years later, the case is yet to reach a conclusion.

Madhu’s unfortunate death had also interested several filmmakers to bring his story to the big screen, but the first to successfully do so was director Vijeesh Mani, who wrote and directed Aadivaasi, with Sharath Appani in the lead role. The film is set to have its first public screening at the ongoing Bengaluru International Film Festival today (march 28) at 4 pm. Madhu’s family is expected to be at the screening and will field questions about the film and the current status of the case.

In an earlier conversation with OTTplay, Vijeesh had explained why he chose to make a film on this case. He said, “I wanted to plan a film that would be universally relatable. Aadivaasi is based on Madhu’s hunger - something that exists everywhere, be it the US or Africa. We are also discussing discrimination based on colour and race, which is prevalent all over the world, as is evident from the #BlackLivesMatter protests after George Floyd’s death in the US. We will also be touching upon the environmental impacts due to our actions.”

The screening of Aadivaasi comes days ahead of the verdict in Madhu’s case. The SC-ST court which is hearing the lynching of Madhu from Attappadi will deliver the verdict on the murder case on March 30. The case has been mired in controversy over the undue delay in proceedings, owing to which several witnesses turned hostile.