Balu Mahendra Library
Balu Mahendra Library is a community-based film and media library located in Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka. The library was established in 2020 by a group of young Tamil filmmakers and cinephiles as a tribute to acclaimed Tamil filmmaker Balu Mahendra.
History and purpose
The library was launched with the aim of cultivating a deeper appreciation for cinema, visual literacy, and storytelling among the younger generation, especially in the post-war Tamil communities of Northern Sri Lanka. It is named after Balu Mahendra in recognition of his contributions to Tamil cinema and his influence as a visual storyteller.The inauguration of the library saw participation and support from renowned filmmakers including Iranian director Majid Majidi, Sinhala filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage, and Tamil director Bharathiraja. Their involvement symbolized cross-cultural solidarity and underscored the library's broader mission of using cinema as a medium for education, healing, and creative empowerment in post-war Northern Sri Lanka.
Located in Kilinochchi, a region heavily affected by the Sri Lankan civil war, the initiative is seen as part of a broader cultural revival. The library provides access to books, essays, and research materials related to film studies, aesthetics, visual media, and global cinema, and also hosts workshops, discussions, and screenings.