Watch: THE LESSER CITIZENS, a short documentary about migrant labourers in Kerala
Photo: Amal Shihabudeen
In his 2021 short documentary, Amal Shihabudeen poses questions of belonging and identity to the uneven balanced faced by migrant labourers in Kerala.
The Lesser Citizens is a short documentary about the lives of migrant labourers in Kerala. Migrant labourers here—who are often stereotyped and generalised as Bengalis—are often seen as second-class citizens by Kerala and many natives of the state. While labour conditions in Kerala are generally better compared to the rest of the country, labourers here still face a lot of discrimination and injustice.
Not having stayed in a particular place for a long time, the question of belongingness is something that pops up often in my head. This documentary is my quest to find out how these people, who are seen as 'lesser citizens', feel about their sense of identity and belonging.
Directed by: Amal Shihabudeen
Assistant Director: Anas Aman
Music: Kurian Anand
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Amal Shihabudeen is currently studying journalism and mass communication from the English and Foreign Languages University, Shillong. His main area of interest is in filmmaking. You can find him on Instagram: @amalali.77.
