Rajinikanth-starrer Kabali set the ball rolling for films set in Malaysia, dealing with oppressed and struggling Malaysian Tamils. At a time when farmers’ plight is a matter of concern in Tamil Nadu, here comes a movie titled Thottam, which speaks about the predicament of estate workers and coolies who work in Malaysian farms. Thottam has Malaysian artistes acting in it, with Indian technicians on board.
Says director Arangannal Raj, “Any country’s economic development largely depends on the agricultural produce and income. In Malaysia, most of the estates have grown with enormous hard work put in by labourers from India, particularly Tamilians. Now, with corporatisation, the owners get richer while the labourers still remain in the same poverty level. Thottam talks about a group of people who fight to retain one of the farm estates without it going into the hands of corporates.”
While Singai Jagan plays the protagonist, Dhana is the female lead. Chinese actress Viviashan is also being introduced as the second heroine.
