A Legacy Alive Screening: Chessman Chaalai (Hin Between Festival 2025)

As a companion programme to Legacy Alive: Celebrating KS Maniam, Nirmala Dutt and Lewis Pragasam , Hin Between Festival presents a special screening of Chemman Chaalai (The Gravel Road), directed by Deepak Kumaran Menon in 2005. Widely recognised as one of the pioneering works of Malaysian independent cinema, the film tells the poignant story of Shantha, a teenage girl in a rural Indian Malaysian family who dreams of furthering her education despite financial struggles and her parents’ traditional expectations.

Shot in raw and naturalistic style, the film offers a rare and intimate portrayal of Indian Malaysian life, resonating deeply with audiences for its authenticity and emotional honesty. Beyond its personal narrative, Chemman Chaalai reflects larger questions of cultural identity, generational conflict, and the possibilities of change amidst hardship.

This screening highlights how legacy is carried not only through performance and oral histories but also through cinema — a medium that captures the complexities of community and memory. The film remains a landmark in Malaysian filmmaking, inviting us to reflect on whose stories are remembered, whose are silenced, and how art allows voices from the margins to endure.

🗓 19 September 2025 (Friday)
🕗 8:00pm - 10:00pm
📍 Deck, Hin Bus Depot
🎟 This event is free to attend; however, registration is required.

Get details and register here: https://forms.gle/Y5boyhTMAu6TdNXt7


#LegacyAlive #ChemmanChaalai #hinbusdepot #HinBetweenFestival2025

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