[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 April 2008, 04:00 GMT]
TamilNet: LTTE Photographer and Cameramen in Sri Lanka: Lt. Col Thava
Killed in action by Sri Lanka Government bomb falling on his head Februrary 17th 2008 while filming another moving tale of the LTTE’s 100% Legitimate Freedom Struggle to be broadcast on YouTube University and other completely Fair and Balanced, factually accurate, and unbiased internet sites like Nitharsanam and our very own TamilNet.
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His Start
Hired in 1990 by the Late S.P. Thamilchelvam to be the sucker who held the camera in battle while the others carried guns against the Sri Lanka Army, Thava successfully documented the attack surviving the hails of bullets and shrapnel with an intact camera to display the fighting up close and personal. Seeing the potential for recruitment Hon V. Pirapaharan decided to make Thava the official Photographer of the LTTE and even the personal Cameraman of Thalaivar’s private steamy bunker sessions with his child soldiers.
Pioneer of Cinematography
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Thava being ambidextrous was able to carry a gun and hand held camera at the same time, this gave him the advantage of being able to defend himself, take a pee, and shoot back at the enemy at the same time. His footage of battles were revolutionary in the film industry, much like that of Leni Reifenstahl was to the Third Reich.
Critical Recognition
It was not until 2002 when the CFA was finally signed and the Genocidal GoSL was off the LTTE backs that some of Thava’s works made it out to the Open and to the Western world. The rise of independent film and the continued awareness to the struggle of the Tamil people suddenly gained Lt Col Thava the Limelight of the rest of the world. The height of his success was his Nomination and subsequent double Oscar wins in 2004 for two of the newer Categories of the Academy Awards: Best Special Effects in a Propaganda Film – beating out Stiff competition from veteran Al Qaeda Director, Azzam Al Gadhan’s, “Die Infidel Die”. The second being Best Director of a Hand Held Camera Movie category also narrowly beating out the much anticipated Hand Held movie: “Paris Hilton Back Door Classics”
Signature Piece.
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Thava’s forte was filming the suffering of Tamils in an ambiguous setting. Whether it was the Woman who just had her husband executed by LTTE police for failing to pay Thalaivar taxes, or the screaming women of the Tsunami, all moments were captured meticulously and then edited to perfection to look like the Sri Lankan Army was responsible for the deaths. He was a master at special effects, making it seem like Tamils were dying in a spontaneous situation when in fact they were all part of a rehearsed contained Studio performance.
Death and Legacy
A joint funeral service was held for Thavam in Kilinochchi. The LTTE’s Kilinochchi zone political wing head Kalaivanan presided. Vavuniya district military commander Velavan lit the ceremonial flame. LTTE political commissar Nadesan delivered the eulogy. Though he has passed on, many new up and coming Tamil Eelam directors are already displaying Thava’s style of ‘Truth Telling’ on YouTube and other free media internet sites. His death has stopped him but not the movement. Anyone with a handheld camera, some free time and a love for Eelam can do wonders in bringing to light the truth about the genocide of the Tamil people.
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V. Prabhakaran in his eulogy has reportadly stated
“A Soft camera in the night, and an extra rectal cavity if the need arose, He was an essential part of my sleepless Eelamic nights with my child soldiers. His films have kept me Eelamic at these tiring times when the genocidal army is killing my beloved child soldiers in droves. Without his camera to record the every moan of ecstasy, pleasure and the split of the ass-cheek of me and my child soldiers I will no longer be able to Eemalize myself in the nights to come.”