• Director: Deepak Kumaran Menon
• Genre: Drama
• Duration 92 Minutes
• Language: Tamil
• Subtitles: English
• Year of Production: 2004
• Theater Screenings: Malaysia, Singapore
• Production Company: One Hundred Eye Sdn. Bhd.
• Distribution Contact: info@redfilms.com.my

Awards
• Special Jury Award - Nantes Festival 3 Continents, France
• Best Alternative Cinema - Anugerah Skrin TV3, Malaysia
• Opening Film - Asian Film Symposium, Singapore

2005 Film Festival Screenings
• 10th Pusan International Film Festival
• 34th International Film Festival Rotterdam
• 48th San Francisco International Film Festival
• 27th Nantes Festival 3 Continents, France
• 15th Fukuoka International Film Festival, Japan
• 7th Barcelona Asian Film Festival, Spain
• 7th Osian’s Cinefan Asian Film Festival - Delhi, India
• Asian Film Symposium, Singapore
• MOV International Digital Film Festival, Philippines
• Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival, Canada

Synopsis
The story is about a girl named Shantha and her family. Shantha lives in an estate where higher education for women is near impossible. Shantha aspires to leave the estate and further her studies. However, due to many unfortunate circumstances this dream becomes a difficult one to achieve.

Cast
Gandhi Nathan, Kalyani, Shangkara, Santhia Marathamuthu, Saratha, Tharoni Mottian, Dhaarshini Sankran, Dinesh Ganesan

Production
Executive Producer: Shanker Menon
Producer: Tan Chui Mui
Director: Deepak Kumaran Menon
Sriptwriter: Sooria Kumari
Director of Photography: Albert Hue
Music: Hardesh Singh
Production Design: Sharon Lee
Art Director: Sylvia Ong
Production Manager: Vimala Perumal
Gaffer: Cupin
Camera Assistant: Sujenthiran
Sound: Khairul Hakimin
Still Photography: Danny Lim
Promotions: Malini Devi

Director's Note
About the Director: Deepak Kumaran Menon

CHEMMAN CHAALAI IS A FILM OF HOPE

The film portrays some of the social and cultural conditions of the Malaysian Indians living in the rubber estate (where most of the Indians in this country have originated).

Malaysia a multi racial country, I believe had so much to share, however have not done so. Due to the lack of content from the Indian media industry, the rest of the Malaysian community are barely exposed to the Malaysian Indian's social, cultural and economic conditions in Malaysia .

The film hopefully, would create a sense of history, self-discovery and an inspiration to all Malaysians. Chemman Chaalai is a film about the community. It's a film about family, hope and dreams.

I would like to quote,

' A race of people is like an individual man; until it uses its own talent, takes pride in it's history, expresses its own culture and affirm its own selfhood, it cannot fulfill itself' - Malcolm X