Name: Paati Sonna Kathai // Grandmother Stories : A storytelling workshop and sharing circle
Start: 2025-09-16T14:00:00+08:00
End: 2025-09-16T17:00:00+08:00
Location: GMBB KL

$Paati Sonna Kathai \/\/ Grandmother Stories : A storytelling workshop and sharing circle$

Our elders tell us stories, soothe us with songs and caution us with rituals with very little explanation. We don’t always get to write them down. Soon after, we forget.
This exploratory workshop invites us to dedicate time to recollect and retell stories worth carrying on. Be it a sambhar recipe from your grandmother or a secret ritual for good fortune from your great-grand Uncle, this guided storytelling programme encourages you to visit your history and bring forth valuable stories that make you, you.

Who is this workshop for?
-- This workshop is for any participant aged 15 and above.
-- All participants are invited to write and share stories in English and Bahasa Malaysia.
-- If you are writing stories in Tamil or any Chinese languages and are willing to translate to English for the sharing circle, we welcome you.
-- Storytellers of any discipline are welcome to join.
-- If you have always wanted to write about someone in your ancestry, but tussled with exploring the complex memories and emotions around it, this workshop is for you.

What must you bring along?
-- All we ask is that you bring an artefact for you to work with during the writing segment. This can be a photograph, a scribbled recipe, a kitchen tool, wedding invitation card, a bottle of talcum powder of a specific brand or even a fridge magnet from a place you once visited together. Anything to guide your storytelling of your chosen ancestor.
-- Also, bring your favourite pen, notebook and a jacket because it can get really cold.

Event Agenda
2pm - 2.30pm: Introductions and Anchoring Exercise
2.30pm - 2.45pm: ‘Songs of our Grandmothers’ a performance lecture by Gogu, featuring folk songs by women of the plantations.
2.45pm - 3.15pm: ‘Stories (we know) to be True’ a prompted discussion by Melizarani and Gogu, exploring the various tales, taboos and lesser known practices of our ancestors.
3.15pm - 3.45pm: Guided writing exercises to encourage new stories from old memories.
3.45pm - 4pm: Making quick edits & taking a quick break.
4pm - 4.45pm: Story Circle, inviting all participants to share their written stories.
4.45pm - 5pm: Q&A + Closing Exercise
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This workshop and sharing circle is in support of the Araro Ariraro crowdfunding initiative. All proceeds will go directly to funding the project.
Contributions of any tier to the Araro Ariraro campaign made between 1st to 16th Sep 2025.
Register via the ticket link provided.
This workshop is conducted in English.
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Workshop Facilitators:
Melizarani T.Selva
Melizarani T.Selva is a Malaysian spoken word poet, writer, and playwright, with stories published by Penguin, Mekong Review and showcased at Singapore Art Museum. Her first book, ‘Taboo’ is a poetic interrogation of Malaysian Indian identity politics. She is the co-editor of ‘The Second Link - A Malaysia-Singapore Literary Anthology’ by Marshall Cavendish, which was a finalist for ‘Best Literary Work’ at the 2024 Singapore Book Awards. Her debut play ‘Kudumbam’, dissecting a father-daughter relationship was staged as part of the 24-Hour Playwriting Competition winners showcase by T:>Works Singapore. Her latest play ‘Kathi/how to dispose of a body in 60 minutes’ deals with themes of mothering, migranthood and digital extremism, completed a staged read produced by The Necessary Stage. In response to K.S.Maniam’s play ‘The Sandpit’, her playlet ‘Sandcastles’ as part of the ‘Legacy Alive’ showcase made its debut in Five Arts Centre and will travel to Penang in September 2025.
Gogularaajan Rajendran
Gogu (Gogularaajan Rajendran) is a filmmaker based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He focuses on telling stories about Malaysian Indians, blending horror and humor through both provocative and poetic approaches. The short film “Walay Balay”, which he co-directed, premiered at the 2024 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight. He received the Krishen Jit Fund for his ongoing project “Araro Ariraro”, documenting the stories of Malaysian Indian plantation workers. Gogu is also currently developing his first fiction feature film, “Kaali: Depth of Darkness”, which received the inaugural mylab FINAS Award and was featured at the 2021 Seapitch Bangkok and the 2022 Film Bazaar Co-Production Market in India.