This short film is a tribute to Lambadi women and their revived craft

Sittilingi Valley in Tamil Nadu is the second southernmost settlement of Lambadis in India. The women of the community had a rich tradition of hand embroidery but as time passed, the craft was lost for more than two generations. With the help of tribal health initiatives, they started reviving the craft and started a society called Porgai Artisans Association. Porgai in Lambadi dialect means pride. Now, the Lambadi women make home decor, accessories, kids and women’s clothing in traditional embroidery coupled with contemporary style. Filmmaker Anagha Unni has made a 51-minute short film called Porgai which is about the revival of Lambadi art. Dr Lalitha Regi, who has been working with the Lambadi community, for the past 27 years, tells DT Next, “After we started the Porgai society, people came to know about the work the women do. But we wanted the world to know about the life of these women artisans so that more people can support them by buying the products. A short film or a documentary is one of the best ways to showcase something and through the film ‘Porgai’, people will get to know about the lives of the Lambadi community. This film is a tribute to a group of Lambadi women of Sittilingi Valley and their revived craft of rich traditional hand embroidery.”

The makers took almost three years to complete the film’s shooting. “The last leg of the shooting was done in February this year. When we promote a product, there is a curiosity among people to know who is behind it. This 51-minute short film has beautifully captured the lives of Lambadi community. The film explores the essence of rural sustainability and its challenges, especially for women. The film is weaved together with various insights from experts from the field of craft in India and also showcases the plausibility of achieving a modest life of equity and happiness,” she adds. At a time when everyone marches towards radical development, these artisans show courage in walking the opposite way aiming for an organic way of livelihood and spreading the same message. The film Porgai was released on December 15 and the team is planning to send it to various film festivals.