What is the documentary 'To Die A Frenchman' about?

The documentary explores the life of Monsieur Mounissamy, who identified as French by spirit and questioned the merger of Puducherry with India.

When did the French withdraw from Puducherry?

The French withdrew from Puducherry in 1962, offering residents a choice to remain or belong elsewhere.

Who is Monsieur Mounissamy in the film?

Monsieur Mounissamy is the central figure of the film, leading an organization of Senior Citizens of French Origin and fighting for dignity and belonging.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / French Legacy: A Man's Fight for Identity

French Legacy: A Man's Fight for Identity

19 Jan

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Summary

Documentary explores a man identifying as French by spirit and hope.
Film questions Puducherry's merger with India after French withdrawal.
Mounissamy led a quiet rebellion for dignity and belonging.

French Legacy: A Man's Fight for Identity

Pankaj Rishi Kumar's documentary, 'To Die A Frenchman,' which recently had a private screening in Kolkata after its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, delves into the life of Monsieur Mounissamy. Mounissamy identified as French by spirit and hope, challenging the integration of the French colony in Puducherry with India.

The film was inspired by Mounissamy's counter-arguments when Kumar was initially in Puducherry to film the Tamil French community during their presidential elections in 2012. Disillusionment with both French and Indian government actions prompted Kumar to focus independently on Mounissamy's story, considering its significance in light of Chandernagore's history.

'To Die A Frenchman' tenderly portrays Mounissamy's struggle for dignity and belonging in the wake of the French withdrawal in 1962. It highlights how many awoke feeling like strangers in their own land, while Mounissamy led a quiet, often invisible, rebellion to ensure his identity was not erased by fractured history.