In this video, Shalini shares that she was born and raised here in the Brickfields area and that the cinema at NU Sentral is located where she used to be during her childhood.
This location used to be an open carpark which was her playground during her childhood days.
Why this title?
When she was 6 years old, her home was broken into by robbers who entered through the window.
Till she turned 16, she suffered severe trauma by being afraid whenever it turned dark or when she had to look at the window.
If she had to go to the bathroom, she would awaken her dad to accompany her. She was continuously living in fear.
When she was 19, speaking to her mum via the telephone, her mum was telling her about sending food to her grandpa who was in the hospital when she heard a sound!
She can still hear that sound to this day! Robbers had broken in to their home and snatched away her mum’s wedding gold ‘Taali’, the Indian symbol of a wedded woman.
When Shalini was 21, her home was invaded again by robbers. She saw the faces of all those robbers. She was writing the script of her first feature film, ‘Geethaiyin Raadhai‘. 2 months before shooting.
Whatever her mum had been saving for her daughter’s wedding were all snatched away by the home invaders.
Her husband, Satish who was her fiance back then, tried to apprehend the robbers but couldn’t do anything because they were armed with knives.
What she felt after lodging the police report has today resulted in her writing and directing ‘Thirudathey Papa Thirudathey‘!
She expressed her relief and gratitude to have her wonderful team who make up the leading cast and team members of TPT.
Why ‘Thirudathey Papa Thirudathey‘?
First reason is that in the Malaysian population survey, the Indian community is the largest group involved in illegal activities such as theft, bullying, gangsterism,murders, etc.
A case in particular is the attack and eventual killing of 18 year old, Penang teenager, Nhaveen Thirumaran on the 12th of June, 2017 last year. He was taunted, beaten up and sodomized by 5 former schoolmates and left brain dead.
Nhaveen passed away without regaining consciousness on the 15th of June, 2017.
Shalini stated that her audience knew who were the attackers and what were their ages?
So, how do we raise awareness about the serious problems plaguing the Indian society?
She thought up this idea of a film to convey the message to the Indian society to stop the rot of falling prey to gangsterism and criminal activities.
Shalini referred to the ‘Taali’ which is a sacred symbol and sign of marriage. Our married women are afraid of wearing their ‘Taali’s’ when going out for fear of getting robbed.
Even her mum asked her not to wear her ‘taali’ when she was going out because she suffered a phobia and trauma remembering her getting robbed before.
So Shalini started thinking as to how someone starts to become involved in crime?
They start by robbing their neighbours. If they succeed in stealing or robbing someone, then they start to get bolder and expand their crime spree to the neighbouring areas, residential gardens and so on.
Is ‘Thirudathey Papa Thirudathey‘ going to be a serious heavy crime drama altogether?
No!
TPT is also highlighting another form of theft.
The theft of one’s lover or partner. She states how some folks went through so much trouble in befriending and getting a girlfriend or boyfriend.
Yet there are cases where through the social media like Instagram, many have had their boyfriends or girlfriends stolen away by smoothtalking swindlers.
Judging by the audiences applause and showing of hands in agreement of what she had said, this shows that it does happen to people.
Such scenes are also featured in ‘Thirudathey Papa Thirudathey’.
In short, all these engaging scenes and stories are featured in this movie and it contains every type of emotions that everyone can relate to.
Fun, enjoyment, parenting and many issues are presented in this movie.
Shalini also talks about Saresh, the lead actor who was very helpful to everyone during the shooting of the movie and lent a helping hand carrying the equipment to the locations.
There was never a day where he arrived just empty handed.
Kabil Ganesan, the main antagonist in the movie also helped out every day during the shooting and did all kinds of jobs in assisting the production crew.
She also thanked Kabil for his efforts in adapting to the manner of dialogue that he needs to deliver in his scenes.
Shalini appreciated Ztish for his creativity in composing and coming up with the wonderful songs and background music that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats watching this movie.
She has a slogan ‘Spread Love ; not Hatred!’
Synopsis
A wayward notorious son’s wish to see his just released from jail gangster father avenge his elder brother’s death by a rival gang turns to dust when his ex-con father refuses to return to his criminal past.
A family’s life is shattered when gangsters invade and rob them of their hard earned valuables. When the victim identifies them, she gets killed and thus begins her son’s vendetta against the murderous crooks.
On another note, the protagonist is caught in a love triangle when he falls for the heroine who happens to be someone else’s girlfriend.
Avenging the deaths of his own sister and mother, he joins forces with the heroine and his best friend to form an anti crime task force.
They use the social media to expose the criminals who are eventually exposed and their families take action against the crooks.
The gang leader comes to learn of his father’s whereabouts and in an explosive confrontation with his dad, stabs his father and leaves.
The father survives and after his recovery goes after his gangster son and eventually manages to apprehend and reform his son.
I have watched Thirudathey Papa Thirudathey and totally recommend each and every concerned Malaysian cinemagoer to go and watch this kick ass movie at your nearest cinema!
It has all the elements of a great Action/Crime/Thriller with a slice of Romantic Comedy as well to astound you with a story that every Malaysian Indian and others can relate to.
16th August 2018! Go and watch Shalini Balasundaram’s awesome movie!
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Its a good movie. Hopefully it can manage to get Malaysian non-tamil audiences.