Paradesi

Paradesi is a powerful and thought-provoking film that delves into the lives of poor villagers in rural India during the British colonial era. The movie tells the story of Raasa, a carefree young man who is forced to leave his village in search of work to support his ailing grandmother. He signs up with a friendly Kangani who offers him a job at a British tea plantation, but things are not as promised. The workers are treated as slaves, forced to work long hours for little pay, and are punished severely if they try to escape. Raasa becomes friends with Maragadham, a worker who has been at the plantation for years, and her daughter. When Maragadham falls ill and dies, Raasa adopts her daughter and awaits his time to leave. However, he soon learns that he has inherited Maragadham's parents' debt to the plantation and will have to work there for almost 10 more years to pay it off. As Raasa laments his fate, he notices a new group of slaves being brought in, including Angamma, the woman he loves, and their son. He runs after them, tears in his eyes, telling them that they have walked into the mouth of hell. The film ends with a wide shot of the tea plantation and all its workers staring at Raasa crying his heart out, highlighting the cruel reality of their lives as slaves to the British businessmen. Paradesi is an emotional rollercoaster that sheds light on the harsh realities faced by India's rural poor during the colonial era while exploring themes such as love, hope, oppression and freedom. With powerful performances, stunning visuals and a gripping narrative this movie is a must see.

You can stream Paradesi on: Amazon Store

Some movies that have similar genres and were produced around the same time as Paradesi include Temple Grandin, Green Book, Hacksaw Ridge, Hidden Figures, 12 Years a Slave, The King's Speech.