Award: Documentary Award

Time: 2002/2003/2006
Place: Kerala, India

Kerala, the most southern state of India is the land of coconut palms. Commercial history backing to centuries reveals that, coconut palms, a multi purpose tree, often revered, have been the job provider and bread earner for many, especially the rural mass.

The natural and eco-friendly fibres obtained from retted and seasoned coconut husks have been used for making ropes (coir ropes), mattings, cushions, installation pads, air filters, etc. Once thrived, coir industry is fading its glory and struggling for survival due to the lack of timely mechanization and en-gulfing of the artificial, high-tech and non-perishable fibres of PVC/Nylon. A ray of hope still pervades for the coir industry, on eschewing the glory of ‘back to nature’

P12: Coconut palm and nuts- Multi purpose tree- offering means of life for many.

P11: Coconut collection centre, net being filled with husks for taking to spot where it is dipped and retted.

P10: Transporting the husk filled in the net, Mali , through the waters to the pre-determined spot for dipping –A cheap mode of transport.

P9: Migratory birds flock on the platform of Mali -the dipped husks.

P8: Tearing out the outer skin of the retted husks.

P7: Beating the retted husks to de-fibre.

P6: Cleaning the fibres manually.

P5: Bundles of coir yarn fibres.

P4: Final cleaning of fibres by passing through motorized rollers.

P3: Spinning coir yarns –using spinning wheels.

P2: Joining two yarns-using spinning wheels.

P1: Hand weaved coir matting.