Kollywood
The poster for 'Maratha Samugam' says the film will be based on the 'love which was not accepted in Udumalaipet'.

Three days ago, a Tiruppur court convicted six out of the 11 accused in the gruesome murder of Sankar, a Dalit man, who had married Kausalya, a woman belonging to the dominant Thevar community.

On the heels of the verdict comes the announcement that a film about the crime titled Maratha Samugam or 'Society that hasn't changed' will be made. The poster of the film which has been released says, 'The love which was not accepted in Udumalaipet, as a story'.

Sankar had been murdered in Udumalaipet on March 13, 2016. Kausalya was also grievously injured but survived the attack. From being a depressed and suicidal woman, she went on to become a strong voice against caste. It was her will to fight the legal battle that has led to the conviction of the accused.

Director Pankaj S Balaji is said to be making the film.

There have been Tamil films in the past about 'honour' killings, notably Balaji Sakthivel's Kaadhal. Radha Mohan's Gouravam is another such film. Trisha's upcoming Garjanai, which is the Tamil remake of NH 10, will also be on the same theme.

The Sankar-Kausalya case has already made its way to popular culture. In Jyothika's Magalir Mattum, her character performs inter-caste marriages and one of the couples who get married are called Sankar and Kausalya.

Tamil films on real life cases have been made earlier. Like this highly publicised case, Kollywood has also been interested in making a film based on the Swathi murder case which shook the state. However, the family had raised objections to the film.

Kausalya has said that she will fight further until everyone, including her mother, is convicted in the case. She has also said that she will not rest until a law that specially deals with 'honour' killings comes into existence. While Kausalya's efforts have won her praise and support from several, many casteist people have also resorted to abusing her for her actions.