‘Nekal’: Legacy of Tribal Farmer Cheruvayal Raman

Ramdas' five-year journey culminated in a 42-minute documentary. It earned a Special Mention in the Non-Feature Film category at the 71st National Film Awards. The film is as much a portrait of a man as it is a meditation on the fragile relationship between humans, land, and heritage.

Raman, known as the father of native paddy species, belongs to the Kurichya tribe, which is the oldest land-owning community of Wayanad. Over the years, Raman has quietly preserved more than 60 varieties of native paddy seeds, along with a rich diversity of trees, herbs, and spices on his three-acre farm. Raman, who represents one of the last generations of Kurichya tribes with knowledge about indigenous seed varieties, believes that seeds are sacred, never to be owned or sold, but to be passed from generation to generation. This unique philosophy is the heartbeat of Nekal.

Ramdas’ approach to documenting Raman’s life mirrored the slow rhythms of farming itself. “We didn’t shoot like a regular documentary,” says Ramdas. “Raman doesn’t sow seeds every day. We went when he did. We waited for the right seasons, the right moments.”

Ramdas' long long-journey and dedication resulted in an intimate, unhurried film that follows Raman through the cycles of sowing, cultivation, and harvest. The frames captured not just the work, but the silences, the pauses, and the deep connection between farmer and field.

In the Kurichya dialect, Nekal is a variation of Nizhal, meaning “shadow.” For the community, it symbolises legacy — walking in the shadows of one’s ancestors, preserving traditions while passing them forward. Ramdas chose the name to reflect Raman’s role as a custodian of agricultural heritage, quietly sustaining the biodiversity and farming practices that modern industrial agriculture has nearly erased.

Though Nekal is rooted in the life of a single farmer, it carries a political message. Ramdas sees the control of seeds shifting from farmers to corporations as a fundamental threat to food sovereignty.

“Earlier, farmers controlled seeds and gave their produce directly to people. Now, corporates control that cycle. That shift is what we wanted to document,” he says.

By telling Raman’s story, the film becomes an act of resistance — a reminder that sustainable farming, seed preservation, and ecological stewardship are not just nostalgic ideals, but urgent necessities.

Interestingly, Nekal was rejected at the Kerala State Film Awards without even a screening. Its recognition at the national level, Ramdas says, validates not just the film but the values it upholds. “The Special Mention is not just mine; it belongs to everyone who supported this project and to Raman himself,” he says.

The film is now attracting interest from audiences across Kerala, with screenings being planned in several districts. It has also been selected for competition at multiple international film festivals, carrying with it the voice of a farmer who continues to walk — quite literally — in the shadows of his forebears.

For Ramdas, the true success of Nekal will not be measured in trophies, but in its ability to influence how people think about food, land, and the stories worth preserving. “If even a few viewers start valuing seeds the way Raman does,” he says, “the film will have done its job.”