Thiruvananthapuram: Normally, you don’t see women entrusted with the task of firing ‘kathinas’ in temples--the reason why Thankamma, in charge of ‘vedi vazhipadu’ at Kochanakulangara temple at Cherthala, became an interesting subject for documentary filmmaker M. Venukumar.
Kanal Jeevitham a 26-minute film on her screened at IDSFFK 2016, was inspired by a news article. “When I read about her, I called up the reporter. That is how I first meet the old lady,” says Venukumar. When he and the cameraman landed at her place, she did not immediately shoo them off as is often the case with the start of most documentaries. She was not very surprised, as there were many who had met her after the article was published.
The woman, a hunchback, has been firing ‘kathina’ ever since her husband’s death. “Their family for years was taking care of the ‘vedi vazhipadu’. Her son had died in a fireworks accident. Another son succumbed to cancer. The only son who is alive is bed-ridden,” says Venukumar.
The ‘kathina’ weighs more than 2 kilograms. She makes 51 of those every day. Each ‘vedi’ costs Rs 10. “Some would give her an extra Rs 10. The only time she makes Rs 500 a day is when there is a temple festival,” says Venukumar.
