Punishing the Professor

28 minutes | Tamil with English subtitles | 2025 | India

What happens when success challenges the caste order?

For Dr. P. Senrayaperumal, rising from a village dropout to a college professor wasn’t just personal triumph—it was defiance. As an Arunthatiyar, one of Tamil Nadu’s most marginalised Dalit communities, his very success became a threat.

This powerful film traces his extraordinary journey—from a hereditary performer of Raja-Rani Attam to a respected academic, and the heartbreak that followed when he was unjustly dismissed from his post. Though the High Court ruled in his favour, the institution refused to reinstate him—revealing how deep-rooted caste prejudice can sabotage even the most hard-earned victories.

What sets this film apart is not only its searing honesty but also its form. Perumal tells a third of his own story in the vibrant, rhythmic style of traditional folk theatre—melding art, resistance, and memory in one compelling narrative.

This is more than a story of injustice. It’s a portrait of resilience, dignity, and the quiet power of refusing to be erased.

This screening is part of the Everyday FACES of Everyday People exhibition, on display at BIC, from Aug 28 to Aug 31.

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