The Depth of Darkness (Kaali)
LOGLINE
1966, Plantation bordering a lush forest in Malaysia.
Kali (24) is a young wife and plantation worker of the Indian diaspora community who struggles with her mother-in-law, Chellammal’s impatience to have an heir. She begins to feel accepted when she eventually gets pregnant but a wrong decision triggers a miscarriage and suddenly Kali faces the wrath of Chellammal, who turns everyone against her.
Left alone, Kali discovers her divine connection to the forest and uses it to take revenge.
COUNTRY/REGION : Malaysia
GENRE : Drama
LANGUAGE(S) : Tamil, Malay
TOTAL BUDGET : MYR 2,963,300
CONFIRMED FINANCING : MYR 108,000
PARTICIPATION IN OTHER LABS/ EVENTS :
2022 Film Bazaar’s Co-production Market
2021 Next New Wave Producing Workshop
2021 Southeast Asian Project Pitch (SEAPITCH)
AWARDS WON FOR THE PROJECT :
2021 Next New Wave Support Award
2021 Krishen Jit Funds
Gogularaajan Rajendran
Director & Scriptwriter
Gogularaajan graduated from the University of Malaya with an architecture degree in 2016 and has since decided to be a filmmaker. Based in Kuala Lumpur, Gogu has edited a few local feature films, notably, Metro Maalai and Ceroboh, and acted in a few local telemovies. Currently, he is researching and writing his first feature Kaali while also working for Skyzen Studios as an assistant director. Gogu wishes to tell wholesome, untold stories of marginalized people, starting with the Indian Malaysians. He believes that even in this bleak world, through the power of innocence, magic can exist.
Kumanavannan Rajendran
Producer
Kumanavannan is a law graduate who went on to obtain a diploma in filmmaking from NYFA and after 10 years of working in a wide variety of productions, Kaali is his first feature as a producer. Equally passionate about food, plants, poetry and travelling, Kuma has lived in a few countries, speaks a few languages, and has a light approach to life.
He is one of the founding members of the Padai Film Community and has collaborated extensively with the director Gogu on many projects winning several awards together. Kuma aims to challenge and break societal norms through his work.