PAN ASIA ICT R&D Grants Programme - UTM

For the local adoptions in Parumala,
the project team followed the same
process.
To identify themes for the films, the
Unsung team held a focus group
discussion with invited experts from
the fields of social science, science,
indigenous studies, cinematography
and applied arts.
After the focus group, the project
team started formulating the films
with content development by networking
with local people and conducting
field visits to collect information about
the Unsung stars. After completing the
content development, the team was
able to give preparatory workshops,
develop the script and finally make the
films. The completed films cover
folklore and folk drama, ritualistic art
forms, linguistics, music, martial arts,
dalit culture, indigenous technology
and indigenous medicine.
The project team also provided
training in the three different stages of
the project: cinematography, sound
recording and editing. Then during the
last five months, the research team
worked on identifying, sorting, script
writing and documenting the proposed
characters. At the local level, the team
conducted seminars to brain storm
with interested groups, discuss
characters and manage group forums.
The project team also held a workshop
on Development of Script and Litera-
Preserving the wonders of CM Kunju
Unsung Among Us
Gautham Sarang did not have any formal education, but has deep knowledge in
various areas, including photography
ture. This workshop helped the
participants in the project develop and
upgrade their skills and train in film
making process. Finally, during the
production stage of the test films, the
team was faced with the non-availability
of a studio facility and recording
facility at each rural place.
The stakeholders, those who
identified the unsung and initiated the
process of documenting them, expressed
a lot of enthusiasm to take
over the project. The stakeholders
accepted the same agenda as the
Unsung project team, because, the
stakeholders saw a golden opportunity
to know their own heritage, history,
and future by documenting the unsung.
The project team wants to especially
commend the wholehearted
involvement of the Unsung themselves.
The first Unsung among the
Pilot test films was a very old woman
singer of the Kaani tribe from the
Western Ghats. The neighbors and
communities of the Unsung identified
the Unsung characters , because of their
contributions to society. For that and
their tireless contributions to their
communities, the Unsung deserve
special thanks and appreciation.
Lasting Impacts
The project goal to identify familiarize
and document those who are living but
Unsung Among Us was successful. The
unique films acknowledge the good
deeds of the Unsung and help preserve
the tradition those Unsung leave
behind.
In the future, the project team plans
to generate more knowledge and adopt
more unsung characters. Already, the
team is planning to organize a workshop
with participation of experts in
multiple fields to improve the skills of
the project team. This workshop will
help the team evaluate the project.
14