The Tamil version of The Face of the Faceless, a 2023 Hindi-language film that brings to life the inspiring story and martyrdom of Indian nun Blessed Rani Maria Vattalil, was launched on July 8, 2025.
The event took place at Our Lady of Lourdes Basilica, also known as Poondi Madha Basilica, in Tamil Nadu, southern India, during the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council (TNBC) meeting. Members of the Tamil Nadu Conference of Religious (TNCRI) were also present.
The gathering began with a heartfelt welcome to the bishops, priests, nuns, and lay faithful who came together to witness this moment of shared faith and reflection.
Gratitude was expressed to Fr. David Arockiam, CEO of Madha TV, a Catholic satellite television network in Tamil Nadu, whose support and collaboration made it possible to bring both the Tamil and Telugu versions of the film to the faithful.
Tamil, a classical language, is spoken in the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and across the world, with an estimated 78 million speakers. It is also spoken in Malaysia, Mauritius, Fiji, and South Africa and holds official status in Sri Lanka and Singapore.
A video presentation gave the audience a glimpse behind the making of the movie, offering insights into the challenges and passion that shaped this award-winning production.
Already honored with over 107 international awards and having qualified for the Oscars, the film is the result of the tireless efforts of director Dr. Shaison P. Ouseph and producer Dr. Sandra D’Souza Rana.
Dr. Ouseph, an award-winning director and associate dean at the Xavier Institute of Communications, St. Xavier’s College (a Jesuit institution) in Mumbai, western India, shared how deeply he was moved and inspired by Blessed Rani Maria’s life of sacrifice and forgiveness.
The president of the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council, along with the archbishops, bishops of Tamil Nadu, and TNCRI representatives, formally released the Tamil edition of the film.
“The Face of the Faceless stands not just as a film, but as an invitation, calling each of us to reflect on courage, faith, forgiveness, and the tireless pursuit of justice and reconciliation,” said Jesuraja, public relations officer of Tri Light Creations, the production house behind the film.
Blessed Rani Maria Vattalil, a member of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation, was a committed social worker who served in the Diocese of Indore, in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. She dedicated herself to catechetical formation, education, and social empowerment in various parts of the region.
Born on January 29, 1954, in the southern Indian state of Kerala, she was stabbed to death at the age of 41, on February 25, 1995, near Nachanbore Hill in Indore.
The assassin, hired by landlords displeased with her work for the underprivileged, was later sentenced to life imprisonment. Remarkably, Rani Maria’s family forgave him, and he was released in 2006 for good behavior.
She was beatified on November 4, 2017.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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