'Nekal', a political statement on farmers and their fight to protect seeds: Director MK Ramdas on national honour
The politics of seed ownership is subtly woven through the film. Ramdas believes making a documentary, especially one about indigenous farming, is inherently political.
The politics of seed ownership is subtly woven through the film. Ramdas believes making a documentary, especially one about indigenous farming, is inherently political.
The politics of seed ownership is subtly woven through the film. Ramdas believes making a documentary, especially one about indigenous farming, is inherently political.
At the 71st National Film Awards, a quiet yet powerful documentary from Kerala earned a Special Mention in the non-feature section. Titled 'Nekal – Chronicle of the Paddy Man', the 42-minute film is rooted in the life and legacy of Wayanad-based tribal farmer and Padma Shri awardee Cheruvayal Raman.
But before the film begins, a question lingers: what does 'Nekal' mean?
“It’s a word used by a tribal community in Wayanad,” explains director MK Ramdas, speaking to Onmanorama. “'Nekal' is a verbal variation of 'Nizhal', which means shadow. It symbolises legacy, walking in the shadows of your ancestors. In their culture, it’s a concept that guides them, a way to bridge generations.”
This idea forms the soul of 'Nekal', a film that quietly follows Raman across the fields and forests of Wayanad, capturing his life in rhythm with the seasons, and his deep spiritual connection to the land. The documentary took five years to complete, not due to complexity in production, but because of the filmmaker’s decision to simply wait and watch.
“We didn’t shoot like a regular documentary,” Ramdas says. “We just followed Raman. He doesn't sow seeds every day. It happens when the time is right. We went when he did. That’s it.”
Raman is known for preserving 63 native varieties of paddy seeds, a feat that is both ecological and political. “'Vithu' (seed) is sacred to farmers,” says Ramdas. “Earlier, farmers controlled the seeds and gave their produce directly to people. Now, it's corporates who control that cycle. That shift is what we wanted to document.”
The politics of seed ownership is subtly woven through the film. Ramdas believes making a documentary, especially one about indigenous farming, is inherently political. “Seeds were never meant to be sold. They’re meant to be passed down. Farmers like Raman live by that philosophy.”
A former visual media journalist, Ramdas began working on 'Nekal' in 2018.
For Ramdas, the Special Mention is a recognition not just of his film, but of the quiet resistance and resilience that define Cheruvayal Raman. “Raman was truly happy when he heard the news,” he said. “This project took the hard work of many people. I owe it to everyone who supported me.”
The journey of 'Nekal' isn’t over. The documentary has already been selected for competition at several international film festivals, carrying with it the voice of a farmer who never stopped walking in the shadows of those who came before him.