Indian Short Film on 9 Yr Old Skateboarder Qualifies for Oscars

The Tamil Skateboarding Sensation has her own film.

A still from Kamali.

It’s been a year since nine year-old Kamali Moorthy made headlines as the “skateboarding sensation” from Tamil Nadu. Now the little girl is the subject of short documentary film which focuses on Kamali and the women in her life. The short has been qualified for next year’s Oscars i.e. the 2020 Academy Awards.

The film, also titled Kamali, follows Kamali's mother Suganthi as she struggles to free her children from the restrictions of local tradition and patriarchy.

Aine Edwards, Kamali’s mentor had this to say about the film.

“When Suganthi (Kamali’s mother) sees her children, she reflects on her childhood and how she could not do the things she wished to do because of the society. Today, she wants Kamali to taste the freedom she did not have,”

Aine Edwards

The documentary which clocks at 24 minutes is directed by New Zealand filmmaker Sasha Rainbow. It also already won Best Documentary at the Atlanta Film Festival in April 2019. That screening has qualified Kamali to be in the Academy Awards Shortlist for 2020.

Take a look at the trailer for Kamali.

“The crew came and shot the film over six weeks. After it was edited, they even sent it to the Mumbai International Short Film Festival in December 2018, where it won Best Director Award,” Aine told TNM.

Kamali is the only female skateboarder from Mahabalipuram, a small fishing town in Tamil Nadu. Her videos have achieved viral fame and she has toured across India to promote the sport which matching moves with professional skateboarding teams. She also enjoys surfing at the beach and dreams of becoming a professional when she grows up.

“I think this award is the biggest achievement of my life, only after my children of course,” Suganthi added.

(With Inputs From: The News Minute)