9. Ponmani (1978)

Language: Tamil

Director: Dharmasena Pathiraja

Following on from his acclaimed Ahas Gauvwa, director Dharmasena Pathiraja made another issue film. Ponmani is unusual in the sense that it is a Tamil film made by a Sinhala director. The film, which is a study of the caste conflict prevalent in Tamil society in northern Sri Lanka perhaps, arose out of the director having spent some time in the area during his university years. The film was not well received by the Tamil community and critics have suggested it represents an outsider's view.