Tiladaanam (The Rite A Passion) Dubbed Hindi
Vicky Greenwell
Subbaiah is an outcast Brahmin priest living out of Tiladaanam ( a Hindu ritual of giving sesame seeds as alms, which transfers the giver's sins to the receiver), the meanest form of Brahmin duty. He ekes out his living in Hyderabad, by becoming a corpse-carrier, and carrying out funeral rites. His son is a Naxalite, and his daughter-in-law, Padma, is living with him. His son Raghuram, makes a clandestine visit home during his child's birth. In search of Raghuram the anti-Naxalite team ransack Subhaiah's house. However, Raghuram escapes the police firing, killing a cop in the process. Raghuram surrenders to the cops so that his family can make a living with the government compensation. Shocked by his surrender Subbaiah dies of the trauma, while Padma awaits in vain for the compensation.
A subtle interplay between clashing ideologies: that of traditional religious values versus modern youth drawn towards extremism. Events overtake Subbaiah Sastry, a highly respected vedic and scholar in his prime now scraping out a meagre existence as a corpse carrier. He endures the contempt of his Hyderabad neighbours due to his acceptance of Tiladaanam, a lowly Brahammic rite involving the acceptance of the sins of the dead in exchange for coins and the food of the deceased. His son, Raghuram, has become a terrorist hunted by the police, at odds with his father. A stark contrast is provided between an outdated system and as yet undefined future. - Melbourne International Film Festival
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