Chronicling the paddy man’s life across five years

What compelled filmmaker M.K. Ramadas to document the life of Cheruvayal Raman was his desire to bring the story of the tribal farmer from Wayanad, who lives for nature, to the common person on screen.

His 42-minute documentary Nekal - Chronicle of the Paddy Man, which portrays the septuagenarian agriculturalist and Padma Shri recipient, earned a special mention in the non-feature category at the 71st National Film Awards for 2023, announced last week.

Incidentally, Mr. Ramadas began filming in 2018, well before Mr. Raman received the nation’s fourth-highest civilian award.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing Regional International Film Festival of Kerala (RIFFK) in Kozhikode on Saturday (August 9), Mr. Ramadas said that the project sprouted from his connection to the agricultural heritage of Wayanad. “Having been born in Wayanad, harvests and seeds have been a constant throughout my life,” he told The Hindu.

During his childhood, he and his father would acquire seeds from the Kuruma community, an experience that fundamentally shaped his appreciation of farming traditions.

For many years, Mr. Raman has been safeguarding 55 indigenous rice varieties, as well as diverse species of trees, herbs, and spices across his three-acre plot. “I had preserved 60 varieties until 2021, but advancing age and health complications compelled me to reduce seed collection,” he acknowledged following his 2023 Padma Shri announcement.

Determined to capture the essence of Mr. Raman’s life and philosophy, Mr. Ramadas shadowed the farmer’s endeavours for five years, documenting the natural rhythms of agricultural life — sowing, cultivating, and harvesting. “My intention was simply to document his life without any intrusions,” he said.

His journalistic background, Mr. Ramadas said, proved instrumental in establishing connections with dedicated cinematographers, producers, and others who recognised the project’s significance and offered their support. “Nekal also has a political message, the political statement of a farmer to live in a democracy,” Mr. Ramadas said.

Both Mr. Ramadas and Mr. Raman believe seeds are not private property but a gift of nature. “We are only here to take care of them. Seeds pass from one generation to another - this has always been nature’s order,” Mr. Ramadas signed off.