Unnikrishnan Avala is nothing short of a spokesperson of tribal population, it should be through their documentary last pageIts book Vipraham Or the beginning of their feature film direction, UdalazamThe latest work of writer-filmmaker, Thanntapru – Life of a PalusThe new land breaks-it includes the Cholnikan community, Asia’s only cave-residents, acting in more than a dozen members in the film. The film is in his language, a unique mix of Kannada, Tamil and Telugu.
This indigenous group lives in Karimpuzha Sanctuary in various caves, about 45 km from Nilambur in Malappuram district. “Now less than 200 members are in the tribe. They were one of the three tribes painted in my documentary, last page15 years ago, the other two are Aller and Arnadan tribes. There are some unique aspects about him, including his facial features that remain with me even after finishing the documentary. ,
He remembers that the crew had a difficult time for the documentary to bring them before the camera. “In fact, one of the tribes defeated our cameraman because they did not like what we were doing. We could not take back many things when my first film was in the language of the Pania tribe, which has a large population, it makes me more excited.”
The fact is that some of them could not remember some words and uses in their language, which enhanced Annikrishna’s interest. “I am sure the language will soon become extinct. It was a major reason for taking this difficult project,” called Annikishan.
He decided to make a feature film, not after a documentary he had later struggled to screen. “I realized that a feature would be a better place to talk about the film tribe.”
Still from the film. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Among those who helped him in bondage with the tribe, Vinod Chalan, the film’s co-secretaritter, Belkkarai Manesh, the film’s hero, and Vinayan Karimbuzha, was one of the actors, a member of the community.
An important aspect of the film is that it should be understood in the context of the 50th year of the Emergency (1975–77) this year, and one of the controversial chapters of the period. A globally sanctioned policy for population control became a forced initiative during this phase.
“The government had ordered that it should not be done among the tribals. But since the Health Department was given a specific monthly target, they forcibly made masculinity to the economic and socially disadvantaged, which included men of tribal communities to meet that goal. They were made on the pretext of curing their illness and they were motivated as cash and tokene.”
Unnikrishnan says that no study has been done on the impact of the drive on the tribal population. But some tribals spoke to him on camera in his documentary about it.
Unnikrishnan Avala, Filmmaker and Author | Photo Credit: Mohammad Photography
ThantaparuHe says, shows how this dark chapter of history affects a tribal community. “Even though the male sterilization was not done among the cholnikas, I have kept my story in that community, because like many other tribes, they have fewer women than men. Since they cannot marry people from any other tribe, there are many unmarried men. This real -life fact is given a fictional touch. Thantaparu,
Udalazam
Unnikrishnan Awala’s first film Udalazam The story of Gulikan tells, a Transparen brought by his tribal community as a boy, while his sexual orientation is of a girl. The film was screened at the Film Festival at the International Film Festival (IFFK) in London, Melbourne, Madrid, Bangalore, Mumbai and Kerala.
Nayak Nari Monachan is the son of the tribal head, who is married to Bela (Chinkina Bhamini). Since most of his friends are unmarried, he becomes unsafe in his marriage. Especially because there is a custom in the community that if a man can keep a woman without holding deep inside the forest, he can marry her. As a result he becomes more informative, suspicious and suspicious about his wife. Some beliefs about physical intimacy also come in the way of their relationship. Eventually, they separate and become close to their friend.
Around the same time, Nari Monachan, who is proud to be a “son of her father”, is surprised to know some truths about her paternity, which is associated with emergency and sterilization drives. The facts they learn to shatter him.
The film also shows how the city has been exploited and misled by the community. “There is a jeep driver who is their only association with the world outside the forest. They sell the forest produce through him that in turn gives them alcohol and tobacco.”
Filming was done in three stages. “First, we documented where and how the tribal people lived in the caves. In the second phase, we took wide shots in and around their colony. After that we took them to a place where the forest cover starts taking close-up shots.”
During the shooting of Annikrishnan Avala with Belakatiyan Manesh (left) Thantaparu
Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
However, it took six years to complete the film. “There are many reasons. They do not come out during the rainy season. During March and April, men usually are busy collecting honey and other forest produce. Shooting was also delayed as it was difficult to bring them together at one place because they lived in different places. Also, there were no about their partner to start shooting once.
A still Thantaparu
Photo Credit: Mohammad Photography
Six months ago, the tragedy killed the team. Pukkaran Mani, who played the role of a friend’s friend and his wife’s lover, was attacked inside the forest by a wild traveler and bent in front of injuries. “We we WERE in the Final Schedule and Ware Supposed to Shoot a Couple of Scenes Featuring Save a child from the animal. It was late by the time the hospital and he could not be saved, “Unnikrishnan Remembers.
Outside the tribe, only a few actors have acted in the film and among them the filmmaker GO Baby is. The cinematography is by Mohammad A, editor Jinu Sobha Hai and music is by Janaki Ezver and Rithu Vasakh. The production designer is Ambili Maydili, the color grading is performed by Liju Prabhakar and the project co-ordinator is Hishm.
Unnikrishnan says he is expecting the film to be taken to the festival circuit.
Published – July 21, 2025 04:49 pm IST
