Karuna Kumar's hard-hitting Palasa 1978 finds a place in Chennai's PK Rose Film Festival

The film, starring Rakshith, Thiruveer, Raghu Kunche and Nakshatra Babu, completes two years of release today

Karuna Kumar's Palasa 1978

Very rarely do we find a Telugu film that doesn't try to beat around the bush and conveys its political and social stance with utmost clarity sans any fuss or fear. Palasa 1978, marking the directorial debut of Karuna Kumar, spoke of the many atrocities committed against the marginalised communities in united Andhra Pradesh with a firmness, raw energy and aggression you don't often find in mainstream cinema here. The film, starring Rakshith, Nakshatra, Thiruveer, Raghu Kunche and Prawin Yendamuri in key roles, completes two years of release today.

On the film's second release anniversary, the Palasa 1978 team couldn't have asked for a better gift. The film has been nominated for the prestigious three-day PK Rose Film Festival to be held in Chennai which starts on April 9. Vaanam Arts Festival, as part of which the film is being screened, organised by Neelam Cultural Centre (founded by Pa Ranjith), is an attempt to document the various dimensions of the Dalit Movement in the visual medium across multiple languages.

Expressing his happiness about the same, Karuna Kumar added, "Pa. Ranith's Vaanam Art Festival, that originated in 2018, has done a terrific job in capturing the Dalit narrative across various art forms over the years. Commemorating the Dalit month (April) and Ambedkar's birth anniversary, many credible films on Dalit politics find a place in the festival and I'm very proud that Palasa 1978 is making a mark at the event this year. Films made with good intent will always be celebrated and Palasa 1978 is great proof of it. This is going to be an unforgettable experience."

Written by Karuna Kumar and Nagendra Kasi, Palasa 1978 was produced by Dhyan Atluri. Arul Vincent handled the cinematography for the film edited by ace technician Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao. Raghu Kunche had scored the music, apart from playing an antagonist in the film. Palasa 1978 is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

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