വള്ളുവനാട്ടിലെ കാളവേലകൾ

If a painting, a poetry, a novel has only one author, why not cinema…? This film is based on the principles of ‘Auteur Cinema’. The script, camera, editing, music, narration, animation, graphics, audiography and direction are done by N.B.Raghunath, a direction graduate from FTII, Pune, the ‘auteur’ of this film, under ‘one man unit’. Valluvanattile Kalavelakal is the eighth project in our ‘Auteur films’ series Kaalavela is part of the temple festivals seen mainly in Valluvanaad, the northern part of central Kerala.. Twin figures of Kaala (oxen), made of straw around a bamboo frame, and dressed ostentatiously with sequins, mirrors and brilliant colours, are carried around with the accompaniment of chendamelam (percussion). Each pair of kaala is created to outshine the rest. More than 25 to 50 pairs of kaalas are brought from the various villages to take part in the festivals. Though the history and tradition of kalavela are different in different places, it has a unique style and represents a rich visual culture. This documentary tries to bring out the beauty and spirit of these festivals. This was shot on HD to capture the visual panorama without loosing its visual effect.