Mumbai, November 28 (IANS). Director Jayan Cherian’s film ‘Rhythm of Dammam’ premiered at the 55th International Film Festival of India held in Goa.
The film ‘Rhythm of Dammam’ brings on screen the struggle of the marginalized Siddi community. The film explores the rich cultural heritage of the community and the challenges they face, shedding light on a story that has been under-represented in mainstream cinema.
‘Rhythm of Dammam’ actually stars people belonging to the Siddi community. Chinmoy Siddi plays the lead role of Jayaram. The film also stars Prashanth Siddi, a well-known actor from the Kannada film industry, who has gained recognition for his roles in many popular films. The actor has also done many films with late Puneet Rajkumar.
Set in the Siddi community of Yellapur, Karnataka, the film tells the story of 12-year-old Jayaram, who becomes possessed by the spirit of his late grandfather and struggles to maintain his grip on reality. The film also highlights the trauma experienced by the Siddi community across generations, stemming from their history of slavery under Portuguese traders.
Jayan Cherian talks about the positive reviews ‘Rhythm of Dammam’ received at IFFI. He said, “This film is extremely personal to me. After spending five years with the Siddi community, I set out to share the untold stories of their strength and cultural identity. I feel honored that the Siddi community The story of strength and soul is resonating so deeply with the audiences at IFFI.”
The Siddi people, descendants of the Bantu people of south-east Africa, have endured centuries of slavery and systemic marginalization within India’s caste system. The film brilliantly highlights his determined journey.
–IANS
MT/AKJ