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GUARDIANS OF THE GRAIN

The unique story of Kurichya tribal community of Wayanad, Kerala is presented in this documentary. For Kurichya tribes’ conservation and farming of indigenous rice varieties are part and parcel of their daily life. Traditional Kurichya joint family consisting of more than 100 members’ lives in a single house complex and rice is essential to feed this big family. Various types of rice are also essential for diverse rituals and for the worship of their deities and ancestors. Cooking quality, grain color, fragrance, calorie value, feeling of stomach fullness, medicinal qualities, high fodder and grain yield are some of the main attributes of these landraces conserved by Kurichya. The community has succeeded in registering these varieties under The Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers Right Act. Kurichya are well aware of various beneficial organisms associated with rice fields and adopt complete Organic farming. They use traditional knowledge for storage of seeds, control of pests and diseases etc. They also promote Biodiversity in their homesteads as well as fields and utilize various plants for food, medicine, making of household articles and utensils etc. Thus, Kurichya community presents a model to conserve natural resources by common man.

  • G.S.UNNIKRISHNAN NAIR
    Director
  • G.S.UNNIKRISHNAN NAIR
    Writer
  • G.S.UNNIKRISHNAN NAIR
    Producer
  • CHERUVAYAL RAMAN
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    22 minutes 49 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 31, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Dgital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • All India Educational Audio Video Festival,CIET
    Delhi
    India
    April 7, 2017
    All INDIA
    Best Doumentary
  • National Science Film Festival,Vigyan Prasar
    Kolkata
    India
    February 17, 2017
    All India Premier
  • India International Science Festival
    Delhi
    India
    February 15, 2017
    All India Premier
  • Kerala Documentary Festival
    Thiruvananthapuram
    India
    July 20, 2017
  • Sandalia SustainabilityFim Festival

    Italy
    November 18, 2017
Distribution Information
  • G.S.UNNIKRISHNAN NAIR
    Country: India
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - G.S.UNNIKRISHNAN NAIR

A popular Science Writer and film maker. Won 15 Awards (7 National Awards and 8 State Awards)for Science popularization through print and electronic media; National Level-National Science Communication Award of Department of Science and Technology from the government of India twice; during 2008 for Science Popularization among Children and during 2016 for Science popularization in visual media, Award in the National Level Book Writing Competition organized by Ministry of Human Resource Development, India in 2002, third prize in the National Chemistry Photography Competition organized by Vigyan Prasar in 2010, Bronze Beaver Award in the 'National Science Film Festival' organized by Vigyan Prasar During 2015 and 2016 ,Best Educative Film Award in NCERT CIET All India Educative Audio Video Festival during 2016.
State Level -Science Literature Award of the State Council for Science Technology and Environment during 2005 in Children’s Literature category, State Farm journalist Award (Karshaka Bharathi Award) in 2005, Bhima Children’s Literature Award in 2009, State Children’s Literature award twice(For translation during 2008 and for Science book during 2014), Kodungallur Balasahitya Samithi Children’s Literature award in 2016, Indian Medical Association -Electronic media Award for 2015 and third prize in Eco-tale contest organized by Organic bps and UNEP during 2016.

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Director Statement

This film portrays a community for whom nature and biodiversity conservation are part of their daily life.