Chennai: Yaadhum (All), a documentary film by Kombai S. Anwar, which traces the history and identity of the less known Tamil Muslim community, has won the Bronze Remi award in the Cultural /Ethnic category recently at the 48th Annual world Fest Houston film festival in USA. Yaadhum means the world is mine and all are my kinsmen. The film begins with a procession of Lord Vishnu passing by a mosque in Kombai in Theni district without stopping the music played in the nagaswaram. It captures a harmonious co-existence with Muslims and other communities.
According to Kombai S. Anwar, the bilingual film in Tamil and English is about Tamil Muslim history and identity, and how Islam took early roots in the Tamil country even as it was spreading across the Arabian Peninsula and beyond.The story in the film is told through his perspective and covers archeological excavations, inscriptions, and old mosques built in the architectural traditions of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
He said, “In the film I kind of connect the present day excavations with the ancient mosques. There is a preconceived notion that mosques always had domes and arches. But mosques were also built in the Dravidian style in Tamil Nadu…”
“My film basically looks at what you are. Are you a Tamilian, Muslim or Indian? All of us are confronted with the identity crisis. I was looking at my identity and I realize I am all of these identities, not just one.” “I really feel happy that the film has been recognised at the international level under the ethnic and cultural category. I hope this victory will spread the message delivered in the film,” he added.
