Thiru. Sowmithiran, who had earlier produced two documentary films on Eelam, "Burning Memories" (on the burning down of Jaffna Library) and "Mullaitheevu" has made this film also.
This film documents the entire period, right from the days when Tamils lived as original habitants of Ceylon, thereupon over the period how the Political powers of the Tamils were curtailed, the 60 years of ethnic cleansing, agreements and disdain, the necessity for the Tamils struggle - both non-violent and armed struggle - and the long path traversed by the Tamils, all have been just documented in this film. Besides it contains rare interviews, which were hitherto un-available. The film runs for 2 hours and 45 minutes.
It took nearly one year to complete this film. This film does not deal with the issue analytically, but events are chronologically arrayed. Viewing the film is bit easier and less time consuming than reading volumes of book on history. We would also like to insist that this is not like the usual sensational films, but a sensible film based on facts and history.
We take it as a privilege in asserting that, the Tamils' deep rooted history in that island is the one and only powerful weapon in our hands and as such it has become imperative on our part to take the same to the current generation.
Reasons for making the Documentary:
The present young generation in Tamil Nadu constitutes a new wave of support for Tamil Eelam Struggle. It has become imperative to understand the political reasons behind War, more so, when the ethnic cleansing of Tamils is being carried on in the back drop of "War against Terror". The present generation like us, is not accustomed to reading books to know about the Eelam Liberation Movement. Unfortunately, there is no visual documentation on the political struggle of the Eelam Tamils and therefore to fill in lacuna we decided to create a documentary film. The ethnic cleansing and its impact have further hastened the need to create a visual documentary on the political struggle of Eelam Tamils. The Globalization has created an impression that knowledge of history is no longer a necessity. History to the younger generation is more a burden than a source of knowledge. The younger generations among the diaspora Tamils are no exception to this. Documenting the past in visual media will help the younger generation to understand their history and thereby overcome the hurdle and participate in the struggle. We found it more significant at this present critical situation. Only with that view in mind the Documentary film is created.