This film is a journey of our return. I first visited the Cholanaikkan community in 1984, and almost 35 years later, I find myself here again, treading the same roads, savoring the warmth and beauty of nature, as we enter the Nilambur forest. It was here that I met our young friend Challan. And I often wondered how much he had changed since I last met him. The ‘Cholanaikkan’ derive their name from the words ‘Chola’ meaning deep forests, and ‘Naikkan’ meaning King. With a population of less than 200, the community had remained unknown for several centuries until 1973, when they were being studied by renowned anthropologist Dr PRG Mathur. I had filmed the Cholanaiken of Kerala in 1984, at a time when they lived in caves along the mighty rivers of the Nilambur Forest in Kerala, a time when they survived by hunting, fishing and gathering food from the forest.
Bappa Ray
Ethnographic filmmaker who has been working among the rural and tribal communities, documenting their lifestyles and livelihoods for the last 35 years. Has received several National and International Awards in the field of Visual Anthropology/Ethnography. Also worked in the field of rural development, literacy and women’s empowerment.He has received 8 President Awards and several International Awards over the last thirty years as a producer and director.