Vaanam Art Festival to kick off Dalit History Month with a celebration of Dalit aesthetic through films, literature and art

Celebrate Dalit identity and culture through film, literature, art, and more at the Vaanam Art Festival in Chennai.

Years ago during a trip to the US, filmmaker Pa. Ranjith visited the The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and was stunned. Under one roof, the museum captured not just the racial injustice, but also documented and celebrated the culture, lifestyle, and journey of this population through centuries.

Inspired, the filmmaker came back to Chennai. He decided that it was time that we too celebrate the birthday of revolutionary Indian leader BR Ambedkar (on April 14) with a month-long commemoration of Dalit identity and aesthetics during Dalit History Month. A film festival was planned but that eventually snowballed to becoming something much larger. “When we began, the intention was never to make it seem like a ‘separate’ festival. It was to ensure that mainstream stages display the lives of Dalit people as is — beyond just the oppression lens,” says Vasugi Bhaskar, editor, Neelam Publications.

In its fifth edition, this festival kicks off with an inauguration at Neelam Books, Egmore on April 1 where an exhibition will document the contribution of regional Tamil Dalit leaders. “Many times, these leaders shape cultural movements and influence whole districts. They aren’t given their due though. We wanted to document their lives and legacy,” Vasugi says.

This will be followed by the PK Rosy Film Festival between April 2 and 6 at Prasad Lab, Saligramam where the films of British Film Director Steve Mcqueen (who directed 12 Years a Slave) and Senegalese director Ousmane Sembène (behind the seminal Black Girl), will be screened. “We tend to pick films that also showcase intersectionality including themes like feminism and marginalisation due to religion,” he adds. The curation will also involve a two-day documentary and short film festival between April 4 and 6.

The much awaited Verchol Literary Festival at Muthamizh Peravai will begin with a talk by writer and historian Ramachandra Guha on the current influence of parties in the ‘Right’ of the political spectrum. He will also speak of BR Ambedkar’s role. Authors writing in five languages will take part in 48 panel discussions over two days between April 12 and 13. A writer will receive the Verchol Dalit Literary Award. In 2024, Tamil writer Bama behind the iconic novel Karukku, won the award.

“Our theatre plays tend to do really well. This year, we will put up three plays in Tamil and two in other languages on April 18 at the Egmore Museum Theatre,” says Vasugi.

This will be followed by the Curve Dalit Art and Aesthetics Exhibition and the Nitham Photo Exhibition at Lalit Kala Akademi between April 23 and 29.