Wronged by history

Ashfaque EJ

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This dates back to the 17th century. Legend has it that Karinthandan, a Paniya chieftain from the Adivaram region in Wayanad, had just left home with his goats. The energetic adivasi shepherd was on his way to the Wayanadan hills, taking the usual routes of those struck by wanderlust. He was approached by a group of Britishers who had embarked on a mission to pave the way through the forest. Taming the forest, which lies in the Thamarassery ghat of northern Kerala, was still a dream for the mighty British Empire. Karinthandan is said to have helped them find a way through the dense Wayanadan forest — from Thamarassery to Lakkidi. The road is still in use.

In 1996, a nine-year-old Leela heard the story from her history teacher in Nadavayal in Wayanad district. Being from the Paniya community, she was moved by the Paniya hero Karinthandan. Paniyas, Adiyas, Kattunayakans, Kurichiyans, Kurumans, Ooralis and Urali Kurumans are among the natives who call Wayanad their land. 

The discussions that followed in the classroom deconstructed the popular narrative regarding Karinthandan’s story. The interactions raised questions about the usual depiction of adivasis as betrayers who helped the invaders. The mysterious story of Karinthandan stayed with her.

In 2010, Leela made her first documentary called Nizhalukal Nashtappedunna Gothrabhumi (The tribal land that has lost its shadows), which threw light on the life and rituals of Paniya community from Wayanad. “It’s our responsibility to tell our own stories. Otherwise people will believe that the constructed image about our community is true. We need to change the popular nation about adivasis,” she added.

Leela’s search for a tribal hero ends in Karinthandan. There are so many versions of the Paniya chieftain’s story. She believes that the story about the enraged and valiant Paniya hero can boost the struggle for land, water and forest. Leela started working on Karinthandan’s story in 2014. The project began as a novel but shifted to cinematic canvas when Leela realised the potential of the story.

According to popular narrative, while Karinthandan helped the British find their way, he was later shot dead by them. Although Karinthandan is treated as submissive and vulnerable in most of the stories, his ghost is depicted as rebellious. The story goes that after his death, his spirit started troubling passersby, resulting in a lot of accidents. People believe that his spirit was later chained to a huge banyan tree in Lakkidi with the help of a local exorcist. 

The chained tree, ‘Changalamaram’ in Malayalam, is considered by the people as the guardian of Wayanad’s hairpin bends. Leela counters the ghost story with the possibility of an adivasi rebellion that took on the British passengers and goods vehicles. Adivasis could have paid their tribute to the first martyr of Wayanad in blood.

Leela approached filmmaker Rajeev Ravi in 2017 with a well-researched script. Collective Phase One, a producers’ collective that includes Ravi, sound engineer Resul Pookutty, editor B Ajithkumar and cinematographer Madhu Neelakandan agreed to produce the film. Kerala state award winner Vinayakan will be playing the lead role.

Leela’s version of Karinthandan’s story started way before his killing. She says her story is not just another tale exoticising tribal suffering. “There was a period of prosperity in adivasi life, but nobody is talking about it. The strong adivasi is represented as a laughing stock in cinema.  I need to deconstruct that image,” Leela says.