The Hindu : A new paradigm in education

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 09, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

A new paradigm in education

By N.J. Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Dec. 8. The students of Kanavu, a tribal school in Wayanad, are setting a new paradigm in education by completing a feature film as part of their curriculum. The post-shooting work of the film, `Gudda', is nearing completion at the Chitranjali Studio here.

All the 42 students of Kanavu and some of their parents have acted in the film, which traces the evolution of the Naikkar tribe, which once reigned supreme in the forests. Since it is a true depiction of their life, it was easy for them to identify with the characters.

Right from the planning to scripting, acting and direction, the students had actively participated in the entire process. The school patron, K.J. Baby, wrote the script in Malayalam after discussions with the students and then translated it into the Naikkars' language.

The shooting was completed in one-and-half years in five schedules -- four seasons of a year figure in the film. The story begins during a Vishu and concludes during the Vishu next year. The film was shot in 16 mm and the approximate production cost was Rs. 12 lakhs. The prowess of the students in dubbing was almost on a par with professionals.

The word Gudda means cage. The girls among the Naikkars on becoming mature are made to stay in guddas till they get married. The mothers then apprise them of their experiences and make them wise to face the travails of life.

Earlier, the Naikkars were rich and they could afford to get the girls married very soon. The film tells the story of a girl who is destined to stay in a gudda for more than a year since her impoverished parents are unable to conduct her marriage on time, Mr. Baby said.

The changes that sweep the hamlet during year, the rising inequalities, unemployment, exploitation of the tribals and mindless deforestation figure in the film. Nanaru and Mangulu, the students who have acted in the film, recount the shooting of the film as a memorable experience.

The school, which functions in the typical gurukula system, lays accent on developing the character of an individual. There are even school dropouts among the students. They learn film-making, kalaripayattu, horse racing, swimming, farming, cooking, the history of Wayanad and all that would complement to personality development.

Though confined to the tribal hamlets, they keep themselves abreast of the latest developments in the world and have seen even the latest classic film. This has had a profound influence on the students.

Unlike the city-bred students who speak English and go to school in uniform, these students are totally down-to-earth and speak Malayalam and the ethnic Naikkar dialect. They do not have any uniform either.

Still they are all worldly-wise and have a clear perception of everything including cinema. The students have taken it as a challenge and are excited that they could complete the project well ahead of schedule.

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