American Institute for Lankan Studies

Caught between different identities in terms of race, religion, and nationality, the film Yaadhum (All) is one man’s quest at coming to terms with the differences as well as a search for his roots. ‘Yaadhum’(All) is also a celebration of diversity within the Tamil, Indian and Islamic world. It throws the spotlight on the less spoken Tamil Muslim community, its 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 is told through Kombai S. Anwar’s perspective, himself being a Tamil Muslim. It covers archaeological excavations, inscriptions, old mosques built in the architectural traditions of Tamil Nadu & Kerala, other existing traditions, Sufism, literature and interviews with well known historians. The film showcases more than a millennium old harmonious co-existence of Islam in Tamizhagam. (56 Minitues)

Film maker: Kombai S. Anwar started his career as a freelance Journalist and photographer with ‘Aside’, a Chennai based fortnightly. He went on to publish in other newspapers and magazines and was also involved in the electronic media, before he found his true calling in documenting History. As an independent researcher he has been focusing on South Indian history, in particular Muslim history. He was commissioned by the Archaeological Survey of India to make a series of short films on the Big Temple at Thanjavur, made in commemoration of the 1000th year celebrations of the famous World Heritage Monument.

Moderator: Dennis McGilvray, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, University of Colorado at Boulder