Watch Tiladaanam

Tiladaanam is a 2002 Indian Telugu drama film directed by K.N.T. Sastry and starring H.G. Dattatreya, Jaya Sheela, and Brahmaji in lead roles. The film deals with the sensitive theme of untouchability in Indian society and its effects on individuals and communities. The story of Tiladaanam revolves around a struggling Brahmin priest named Venkateshwarlu (played by H.G. Dattatreya) who is forced to perform a last rites ceremony for a lower-caste woman. The woman, who dies in childbirth, is the wife of a Dalit activist named Samba (played by Brahmaji), who has been fighting for the rights of his community for many years.

Venkateshwarlu's act of performing a last rites ceremony for a lower-caste woman is considered a grave offense by his community, who refuse to accept him back into their fold. The Brahmin priest is forced to leave his village and his family behind and travel to the city to start a new life.

In the city, Venkateshwarlu meets a group of outcasts, who live in a cemetery and are ostracized by society. He begins to see the world from their perspective and decides to dedicate his life to help them. Meanwhile, Samba continues his struggle for the rights of his community and is jailed for his activism.

As Venkateshwarlu becomes more involved in the lives of the outcasts, he discovers that his own family has been affected by untouchability. His son, who is studying in the city, falls in love with a lower-caste woman, but is unable to marry her due to societal pressures. Venkateshwarlu tries to bring about a change in his family's thinking, but is met with resistance.

The film highlights the deep-rooted caste system in Indian society and the devastating effects it has on individuals and communities. It also shows how difficult it is to bring about change in such a deeply entrenched system.

H.G. Dattatreya delivers a powerful performance as Venkateshwarlu, a man torn between his duty to his community and his desire for social justice. The film also features strong performances from Jaya Sheela as Venkateshwarlu's wife, and Brahmaji as Samba, the Dalit activist.

The direction by K.N.T. Sastry is commendable, and he handles the sensitive subject matter with sensitivity and nuance. The cinematography by P. C. Sreeram is stunning, capturing the stark beauty of the cemetery where the outcasts live, and the gritty realism of the city slums.

In conclusion, Tiladaanam is a must-watch film for anyone interested in Indian society and its complex caste system. It is a powerful story that will leave a lasting impact on the viewers, making them question their own beliefs and biases.