Arivu narrates ‘Mudhuvar’, a documentary on Anamalai’s tribe and Nilgiri Thar

Stills from ‘Mudhuvar’
| Photograph Credit score: Particular Association

Mist uncovers a verdant expanse, revealing a serpentine stream winding by the plush panorama. As Arivu’s soothing narration begins, we’re handled to a wide ranging aerial view of Akkamalai, referred to as the roof of Anamalai.

“Right here, the sway of the grass, the breath in my chest, the motion of mist, the heat in your blood, the rumbling storm echoing in opposition to the crown of Akkamalai,” Arivu narrates, his voice a stark distinction to the high-octane hip-hop numbers we’re accustomed to. Right here, it captures the serene magnificence and tranquillity of the mountains.

That is how the introduction of Mudhuvar, the third brief movie a part of The Pollachi Papyrus’s docuseries on the wildlife and the native tribes of Anamalai, transports us into the guts of the indigenous Mudhuvar tribe and their harmonious coexistence with the Nilgiri Tahr.

By means of Arivu’s poetic narration, we delve into the intertwined lives of the Mudhuvar and the Nilgiri Tahr, the state animal of Tamil Nadu.

“Throughout my analysis for Challenge Nilgiri Tahr, I used to be exploring the ecological function of the Nilgiri Tahr and the justification (of State Authorities) investing 25 crores in its conservation. I found that the Tahr performs a novel function within the ecosystem, feeding on 125 totally different species of herbs and grasses that different herbivores keep away from. This helps keep the well being of the mountain ecosystem and ensures the movement of rivers,” says Pravin Shanmughanandam, one of many founding members of The Pollachi Papyrus and a co-director of the movie.

“Our affiliation with the Tamil Nadu Forest Division, which launched a conservation undertaking for the Nilgiri Tahr, allowed us to entry unique footage of this endangered species and its habitat. We built-in this footage into our movie to spotlight the essential function of the Mudhuvar neighborhood and the Nilgiri Tahr in sustaining the ecosystem’s well being,” he provides.

The primary movie within the collection, Kadar,explored the resilience of Loganathan, a local tribal one that lived peacefully in his panorama regardless of encountering a harmful elephant. This movie underscores the harmonious coexistence between indigenous communities and wildlife, a relationship usually ignored in conservation discussions.

Nonetheless from ‘Mudhuvar’
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

The second movie, Malasar, shifted the main focus to the mahout-elephant bond within the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. Actor Nassar lent his voice to Malasar, considerably enhancing its attain.

Pravin acknowledges the invaluable contributions of Nassar and Arivu to the docuseries. “Their perception within the tales we have been telling and their willingness to lend their voices professional bono added a major layer of depth and authenticity to our movies,” he says, “Nassar Sir’s suggestion of the road ‘Nee verum pagan alla, yaanai-yin oru baagam’ (you aren’t only a mahout; you’re part of the elephant) in Malasar completely captured the essence of the mahout-elephant bond. And Arivu’s private expertise with the migration of his grandmother and his dedication to preserving cultural heritage resonated with the Mudhuvar‘s message.”

Whereas Pravin envisions increasing the docuseries to incorporate extra movies and probably a feature-length documentary about Anamalai, he emphasises a affected person and natural method.

“Our storytelling course of is unhurried. We keep away from dashing into tasks with preconceived concepts. As an alternative, we let the tales unfold naturally and give attention to what resonates with us,” he says, “Subsequent, we’re contemplating branching out from Anamalai to discover different areas and tribes, such because the Kani and Kurumba. We’re on the lookout for narratives that is probably not instantly noteworthy however have the potential to be partaking.”

Mudhuvar is streaming on The Pollachi Papyrus YouTube channel

Revealed – September 17, 2024 06:24 pm IST