Pavalakkili
Tamiliam presents

பவழக்கிளி

- அம்மம்மா வீட்டுப் பொங்கல் -

Pavalakkili - Ponkal at Grandma's House is a gentle, heartwarming story about a six-year-old girl from the diaspora visiting her grandmother’s village in Tamil Eelam for the very first time, celebrating her first Ponkal — guided by a wise and playful talking parrot named Pavalakkili.

Pavalakkili Poster
Grandma & Granddaughter
The Story

Rediscovering Roots

Living alone in her quiet village, a grandmother’s world changes when her six-year-old granddaughter Aathanaa [ஆதனா] visits from the diaspora for the first time — longing to celebrate Ponkal. Together, they rediscover lost traditions, love, and belonging through the warmth of one unforgettable festival.

Blending live-action with animation, this 75-minute film is crafted especially for children aged 3–8, while offering a deep sense of nostalgia and cultural connection for parents. Rooted in Tamil heritage, it is a celebration of family, identity, and the joy of rediscovering where we come from — together.

75 Minutes
4 Songs
3-8 Ages
Soundtrack

Watch & Listen

Experience the magical world of Pavalakkili through these vibrant songs.

Naan Tamil [நான் தமிழ்]

Music: Dharan Kumar
Vocal: Vaaheesan Rasaiya
Lyrics: Vaaheesan Rasaiya & 'Tamiliam' Subas

Thai Thirunaal [தைத்திருநாள்]

Music: Dharan Kumar
Vocal: Dishathana Vimalanathan
Lyrics: Poet Ambi

Song 3: Coming Soon

Vocal: Parvathy Sivapatham
Lyrics: 'Tamiliam' Subas

Song 4: Coming Soon

Vocal: Sarika Navanathan
Lyrics: Thamizhnathy

Listen on your favorite platform

Meet the Cast

Characters

The magical people (and parrot!) of our story.

Pavalakkili

Pavalakkili

The Storyteller

A wise and playful talking parrot, Pavalakkili guides and delights children with its lively charm, turning the journey into a magical experience where education unfolds through entertainment.

Ammamma

Ammamma

Parvathy Sivapatham

A grandmother living in the ancestral village. Through Aathanaa, she finds new joy and a reason to bring back every Ponkal ritual.

The Granddaughter

Aathanaa

Kiyanshi Alex

A 6-year-old girl born and raised in the diaspora. Curious, witty, and sometimes shy, she discovers Ponkal as a bridge back to her roots.

Ratings & Reviews

What Critics Are Saying

-

“A sweet beginning for Eelam children’s cinema”

★★★★☆

Pavalakkili – Ponkal at Grandma’s House has been awarded a rating of 8/10 by the Eelam Cinema Rating Committee (ஈழத்திரை திரைப்பட மதிப்பீட்டணி).

- Eelamcinema

★★★★☆

“ஈழத்துச் சிறுவர் சினிமாவின் இனிய தொடக்கம்”

- ஈழத்திரை
Director's Note

A Personal Journey

"Pavalakkili is my way of reconnecting children of the diaspora to the roots, stories, and warmth we grew up with."

When I first read this screenplay, what moved me deeply was the way it portrayed the world of children. It was not built on escapist fantasy or stories designed to subtly shape the subconscious. Instead, it revealed the beauty, love, and strength that already exist within children and around them—presented in a way that feels close to reality, yet remains engaging and captivating for young minds.

I felt compelled to bring this story to life with the aesthetics and lived experiences unique to Eelam, while also embracing the playful and entertaining elements that belong to children’s cinema. At its heart, the film carries a quiet intention—that children may feel and understand the values of gratitude, nature, family, and community. In many ways, it brought back my own memories of childhood.

Growing up in wartime Eelam, we did not have many toys. But we had many friends. We played outside, we imagined, we created. Those experiences helped us understand life in its simplest and most meaningful form. Today, many children are surrounded by material comforts and screens, yet are slowly losing that simple connection with nature and with people.

This film is not just a story about Ponkal. It is about the feeling of belonging. It is a small attempt to remind us that no matter where a child grows up in the world, they can always discover their identity through their language, their traditions, and the stories of their family.

- Ravindran Kobisanth

Director, Pavalakkili

Director Ravindran Kobisanth
Release & Distribution

Release date to be announced very soon!

Pavalakkili is planned for screenings across 15+ countries, with a strong focus on diaspora communities and cultural organisations.

Our goal is to bring this story to families and children around the world, creating a shared cultural and emotional experience across generations.

If you are interested in hosting a screening or collaborating on distribution, we would be happy to hear from you. Please contact: info@tamiliam.com

The film is targeting a worldwide release from January 2027, following its premiere.

  • Europe & UK
    Belgium: BrusselsTBA
    Denmark: Aalborg, CopenhagenTBA
    Finland: HelsinkiTBA
    France: ParisTBA
    Germany: Berlin, Bochum, Stuttgart TBA
    Italy: MilanTBA
    Netherlands: AmsterdamTBA
    Norway: Bergen, Oslo TBA
    Sweden: StockholmTBA
    Switzerland: Bern, ZürichTBA
    UK: London TBA
  • North America
    Canada: Mentreal, Toronto TBA
    USA: New York TBA
  • Pacific Ocean
    Australia: Melbourne, Sydney TBA
    New Zealand: Auckland TBA
Press & Media

Media Kit

Explore the official press materials for Pavalakkili, including high-resolution images, posters, and key information.

This folder is continuously updated with the latest assets for media and partners.

Last updated: 26.03.2026 06:00 CET



Full cast and crew details are available on Eelamcinema.com
For further information, interview requests, or exclusive materials, please contact: press@tamiliam.com

Standing Pavalakkili
Download Press Kit (912MB)

In Collaboration With

In association with

Raavanan

Raavanan

In collaboration with

Eelam Film Institute

Eelam Film Institute

Script Development Support

Eelam Script Lab & Story Bank

Eelam Script Lab & Story Bank

Supported by

Balu Mahendra Library

Balu Mahendra Library

Official Media Partner

Eelamcinema.com

Eelamcinema.com

Youth Media Partner

EelamVisuals

EelamVisuals

Got Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Pavalakkili is specially designed for children aged 3–8, with a calm, gentle tone and a safe, non-violent environment.

Children will be introduced to Ponkal traditions, family values, and cultural identity. The film encourages curiosity, empathy, and a sense of belonging through storytelling.

Yes, learning is naturally woven into the story. Children experience culture, rituals, and values through a playful and engaging narrative.

No. The storytelling is simple, visual, and emotionally clear, making it easy for young children to follow and enjoy.

Absolutely. The film carries nostalgia, humor, and emotional depth that resonate with parents, especially those from the diaspora.

The main film maintains a gentle, calm, and child-friendly tone, carefully designed for young audiences. The storytelling focuses on warmth, family, and cultural joy, without presenting heavy or distressing moments to children.

Some deeper emotional layers are explored separately through an extended version of the song “Vanthaayee Thaayaaka” (வந்தாயே தாயாக), performed by veteran Eelam singer Parvathy Sivapatham, who also portrays the Ammamma in the film. This song tells an untold part of the grandmother’s story — her past, her loss, and her inner strength — which is not shown within the main narrative in order to preserve a safe and comforting experience for children.

The extended version of the song will be released publicly as a promotional piece, primarily intended for parents and adult audiences. A simpler version of the song is included after the end credits of the film, without additional narrative elements.

This approach allows children to experience the film as a warm and joyful journey, while offering adults a deeper emotional connection to the story.

Pavalakkili is a 75-minute hybrid film combining live-action and animation.

Primary: children aged 3–8
Secondary: families and diaspora audiences

It blends cultural storytelling with child-friendly entertainment, offering a rare combination of education, nostalgia, and magical elements through a talking parrot character.

We are focusing on diaspora hubs and international markets, including Europe, North America, and Australia.

Yes. We are open to cinema releases, community screenings, and educational programs.

Yes, we are actively exploring distribution opportunities across multiple territories.

The film will be available in standard professional delivery formats, including DCP (Digital Cinema Package), 4K resolution, and 5.1 surround sound. Additional formats can be provided based on distributor or platform requirements.

It is a heartwarming story about a young girl reconnecting with her roots through a visit to her grandmother’s village during Ponkal.

The film is primarily in Tamil, with plans for subtitles and potential dubbed versions.

The film is targeting a worldwide release from January 2027, following its premiere.

Yes. This film marks the beginning of the Pavalakkili universe, a growing collection of culturally rooted children’s stories. Future projects will expand this world through new characters, stories, and formats across different age groups.

Pavalakkili uses AI as a creative tool to enhance storytelling, particularly in blending live-action with animation. Our goal was not to replace artistry, but to support it—allowing us to create a visually engaging world for children while maintaining cultural authenticity and emotional depth. Every element is carefully guided by human creativity, with AI used to expand possibilities in a responsible and meaningful way.

All press materials, including images and official information, are available in the Press & Media section.

Please contact us at: press@tamiliam.com

Yes, all assets are available for download in the press kit.

Join the Journey!

Follow our official WhatsApp Channel to get exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes content, and ticketing information for your city.

WhatsApp

Contact Us

For press inquiries, distribution rights, or community screenings.

  • 📧 info@tamiliam.com
  • 💬 +47 972 82 620
  • 📍 Oslo, Norway

A Growing World for Our Children

Pavalakkili is just the beginning.

Our vision is to build a growing world of meaningful, culturally rooted stories for children — stories that reflect who we are, where we come from, and the values we carry forward.

Behind this journey is a carefully developed foundation. We have curated a collection of over 400 Eelam Tamil children’s stories and poems, created by veteran Tamil children’s writers. Working alongside a team that includes child psychologists and Eelam Tamil cultural voices, each story is thoughtfully selected and shaped through a strong understanding of kids pedagogy — ensuring that every piece is age-appropriate, emotionally safe, and meaningful.

Our storytelling approach is designed across different age groups — 0–3, 4–5, 6–8, 9–12, 13–15, and 16–18 — allowing us to create content that grows with the child. While Pavalakkili focuses on younger audiences, this is part of a larger vision that will expand into stories for older children and young adults in the future.

We are already developing a series of original stories and characters, including Thaadi Aruntha Vedan, inspired by “Golden Grandpa” (தங்கத் தாத்தா) by Somasundara Pulavar (சோமசுந்தரப் புலவர்), along with many more imaginative episodes to be released through our Tamiliam Kids platform — blending storytelling, music, and animation into experiences that are both entertaining and deeply rooted in our culture.

Today, much of children’s content lacks a sense of cultural belonging. Through Pavalakkili and the stories that follow, we hope to offer something different — a space where children can see themselves, hear their language, and feel at home in the stories they grow up with.

If this film resonates with you and your children, your support helps us continue this journey — creating meaningful, joyful, and culturally connected experiences for the next generation.

We also warmly welcome collaborations with partners, educators, and investors who share this vision.