In a commendable move, a young filmmaker from Kerala is becoming the voice of the Adivasi culture in the state and spreading the same to far-away lands.
Leela Santhosh, 29, is the only adivasi film-maker from the state. She is trying to bring out the culture of the adivasis through her works, without the interference of non-adivasis.
Leela never attended school and has no formal training in film-making. However, this did not deter her passion of film-making.
As per a feature done by TwoCircles.net, her strong determination led her to produce her first documentary, ‘Nizhalukal Nashtappedunna Gothrabhumi’ (the tribal land that has lost its shadows) in 2010. The documentary threw light on the culture of the Paniya community from Wayanad. She is currently working on her second film.
The young film-maker is now planning to make a feature film on a Paniya tribal chieftain, Karinthandan, who is said to have helped an English engineer build the Thamarassery ghat pass.
“He was a legend and not someone who helped invaders, as is often depicted by non-Adivasis. Several misconceptions about him continue to exist and I will try to address the same,” said Leela about Karinthandan.
She is also active with ‘Kanavu Gurukulam’, a unique experiment in alternative schooling meant for educating adivasi children. Leela spent 13 years as a learner in Kanavu, and is now helping the same school to groom other children.
Kanavu, meaning dream, was set up by social activist, K J Baby, aimed at resisting the high dropout rates among tribal children in Wayanad. The school follows the ‘gurukul’ system.
Over 400 students have been trained from Kanavu, with 50 non-tribal students.
A few years ago, Kanavu almost stopped functioning a few years back, as a number of students started attending private education institutions. However, it soon revived.
“We changed the mode of teaching and now conduct extra classes for these children on the weekends. We also located students that drop out from schools and take them back. We are taking up efforts to prove that Adivasi kids are as talented as the ‘mainstream’ children,” quoted Leela.
32 children between 5-13 years of age are taught by citing real-life examples by reading and travelling. No textbook teaching is provided to them.
Students are taught music, painting, dance, theatre and martial arts, particularly Kalaripayattu, the traditional martial art of Kerala. They are also given lessons on animal husbandry and farming.
Leela is assisted by 20 other alumni of Kanavu, who spread its activities all across the state. They also manage and handle the revenue of the school.
Kanavu is receiving global attention and the school now has visitors from countries like Canada, Brazil and Germany.
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“Kanavu is not irrelevant at all. The film workshops and exhibitions groomed me as a filmmaker. And my first work is a tribute for Kanavu. Several artists will be formed from Kanavu,” said Leela.
She is married to Santhosh Sankar, her classmate from Kanavu. The couple is active in the activities of Kanavu, while Santosh also runs a Kalarippayattu training institute and healing centre.
Leela believes that through Kanavu and her filmmaking, she is able to carry forward the culture of the adivasis in Kerala. She is trying to ensure that the struggles, stories and achievements of the adivasis are presented by them only so that they do justice to the legacy of Kerala Adivasis.
