Niyoga: Canada, 2016
Languages: Tamil, English
Principal Cast: Tharshini Varapragasm, Rasaiah Rasarathnam, Manonmany Rukmani, Sumu Sathi, Parthi Puvan, Vaishnavie Gnanasaravanapavan, Stenson Arul, Kelly Hashemi
Director: Sumathy Balaram

On Saturday, April 2nd, Niyoga, Sumathy Balaram’s first feature film will have its Canadian premiere at York Cinema (115 York Blvd., Richmond Hill, Canada).

Also known as Karupy, Sumathy is a short story writer and theatre artist who has written and directed six short films which have been screened, and recognized with awards, at various film festivals around the world.

She is also the creator and the artistic director of the “Uyirppu Progressive Tamil Women Artistic Organization”. The organization was created in 2005 with the goal to research and stage-play the social issues of women, especially first-generation Tamil Women.

Niyoga is Malar’s story, as a political refugee who fled Sri Lanka during the civil war. Her marriage to Ranjan, a journalist only lasted three days when unknown men abducted him. He joined the ever-growing list of missing persons who had spoken out for human rights in the country. In fear for their own lives, Malar and her family move to Canada and settle in the suburbs of Toronto. The conventional Tamil family values continued there and Malar’s brother, Jeeva freely went to school, got a degree, found a job in Toronto, and chose to marry the girl he loved. In contrast, Malar was expected to wait for her missing husband to reappear under the wings of her parents and brother.

Things take a radical turn when three young men come into Malar’s life: a young astrologist, a stalker, and a family friend, Naren. Will she emerge from familial constraints to assert a new self or will she be buried under her own shadows forever?

Join the cast and crew on Saturday to find out! Tickets can be purchased here.

Feature image courtesy of Rubancam. 

Film