Resource contributed by: Theophilus Kwek

Ramasamy Madhavan, $alary Day, 2020, 13 min

“$alary Day is a short film depicting a day in the life of a migrant worker in Singapore. Though the film features little dialogue, the attention to seemingly mundane details communicates the struggles and choices that migrant workers here have to undertake in the face of exhausting labour and low wages.

Directed and acted by R. Madhavan, who hails from Tamil Nadu, India, this is the first film produced out of a collaboration between migrant workers and Singaporeans.

The film addresses themes regarding migration, family and the hidden stories behind a simple livelihood, presenting an authentic take on such issues. Its simplicity and rawness offer a profound mix of emotions, which are sure to prompt viewers to question all that we have taken for granted around us.”