Karavali Wikimedians/Events/‍Folk-a-than Documentary

Folk-a-than Documentary

Tulunadu is the name given to the coastal region of Karnataka. Within this miniature version of India, various communities and religions coexist. They share an intrinsic connection with regional traditions, culture, and a way of life. This region showcases a complex tapestry of behaviors, rituals, beliefs, traditions, and entertainment. It is imperative to grasp the significance, nature, and structure of these practices in order to comprehend their purpose within the traditional Tuluva community.

"Pursere kattuna" or "purusa makkala kunita" is a traditional and religious dance form. During the Tulu calendar's Suggi month, the Gowda people of Belthangady and Puttur celebrate a full-moon summer dance. "Pursere kattuna" performances continue from late night until early morning, traversing through various layers of society's households.

It holds great importance to document the Pursere Kattuna Folk Art. Unfortunately, this folk art hasn't received as much public attention as other forms of public art. With each passing year, customs and costumes fade, making them on the brink of extinction. Hence, it becomes critical to document and preserve this cultural essence for future generations.

There are more than 20 to 30 artists involved, portraying distinct characters in this documentation. Various roles such as Dasayya, Bhatru, Sansyasi, Koraga, Koti Chennaya, Beetle Purbu, Byari, piliyesa, and more are performed. Our intention is to record this oral history of culture through reports, photos, videos, and text-based documentation of the folk dance. To achieve this, we aim to maintain close contact with local people and encourage them to capture the genuine expression of their capabilities. We've already made efforts to communicate with the locals. However, certain rituals will be carried out during the most auspicious times of the day or night, following the Tulu calendar, either during daylight hours or after sunset.

Team for Documentation[edit]

Bharathesha Alasandemajalu - Programme coordinator, responsible for the overall project implementation and reporting. He was a member of the Karnataka State Arebhashe Samskriti Mattu Sahithya Academy, so he had the idea of producing the cultural documentation in a systematic way.
Dr. Vishwanatha Badikana - Responsible for Community Outreach & Partnerships.- He is a professor by profession and has high knowledge about Pursere kattuna. He was in charge of some of the Karnataka State Arebhahse Samskriti mattu Sahithya Academy's documentation.
Mr Chidananda Kampa - Responsible for coordinating with Artists and other work - he will be in charge of photography
Dr Kishore Kumar Rai Sheni - Principal, Nalanda College Perla, Folklorist.
Guide - Mr Yadupathi Gowda, Principal Vani P U College, Belthangady Folklorist.
Adviser - Dr Sundara Kenaje, Lecturer, Govt P U College Sullia, Folklorist.
Adviser - Mr Jeethu Nidle, Field Publicity Officer, Central Bureau of Communication.
Translation - Dr Girish N, Associate Professor, DLHS, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
Members of the Karavali Wikimedians User Group team will help implement this proposal.

Initial Activities[edit]

As an initial activity (before the video documentation) it is essential that all theoretical references regarding Siddhavesa are documented and made available across the team.

Siddavesa - An Interpretation Dr.Purushuthama Bilimale ( on 7 February 1987 )
Karvali janapada, Dr. Purushotha Bilimale, 1990. Mangalagangothri, Mangalore University Dakshina Kannada,
Yadupathi Gowda, Gauḍaru-janāṅga mattu kuṇita, Yadupati gauḍa, 2003. Okkaligara Yāne Gauḍara Sēvā Saṅgha, Mangaluru, pg.153
An article by Dr.Poovappa Kaniyuru, Pookare mattu itara Janapada Lekanagalu
We were photographed during this folk performance in March 2019, using limited sources, so we have a good idea of what Pursere kattuna folk performance is like. the link is here (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Sidda_Vesha,_Live_-_Text,_Performance,_Documentation)

Reference Videos[edit]

we are referring to Kannada Abhivrudhi Praadhikaara and the Karnataka Government's some exclusive documentation about the folklore of Tulunadu as well as Karnataka State. Some are listed below.

Pre Documentation Meeting[edit]

02 December 2022, During a one-hour-long online call, Dr. Sundar Kenaje, Dr. Vishwanatha Badikana, Yadupathi Gowda, Dr. Kishore Kumar and Bharathesha discussed the steps involved in documentation, script writing, initial plan for the Documentary.
06 December 2022, Online call with Dr. Sundar Kenaje, Dr. Vishwanatha Badikana, Yadupathi Gowda, Dr. Kishore Kumar and Bharathesha The first point of contact for the folklorist and a recent development discussion.

16 December 2022, In-person meeting with Mr. Chick, Dr. Vishwanatha Badikana, Mr. Ashay Badikana, and Bharathesha Alasandemajalu.

18 December 2022, Conference call with Mr Jeethu Nidle, He is working as Field Publicity Officer, Central Bureau of Communication discussed about documentation.
18 December 2022, Google meet with documentary team Dr Sundara kenaje, Dr. Kishore Kumar Sheni, Mr Yadupathi Gowda, Mr Chidananda, Dr Vishwanatha Badikana and Bharathesha Alasandemajlu are participated.

Suggestions by Experts.

Dr Sundara Kenaje

The types of scripts that should be prepared for a folklore documentary should have three main sections:a. Cultural aspects, b. Folk performance c. Expert, artist, and local person insights

What kinds of questions you should and should not ask: Types of questions you should ask experts, artists, and local people.

It is necessary to prepare different kinds of questions.

For a half-hour documentary, we have to collect at least 20 hours of recordings.

He shared his experience about script writing and video recording from his past.

Jeethu Nidle

Prior to creating the documentary, it's crucial to gather insights from artists and senior members of the village. This approach boosts the confidence of village members to share their expertise and provide explanations in a comprehensible manner. This also ensures that during the live performance, they won't be hesitant to contribute their insights.

Deciding between capturing a live performance or reenacting the performance.

Mr Yadupathi Gowda

Comprehensive exploration of the contemporary stages of the Pursere Kattuna performing art, with up-to-date research.

Shared insights gained from documenting at the Regional Research Center Udupi.

Acknowledged that a live performance offers an enhanced experience in the realm of performing arts.

Provided a concise overview of the subsequent steps and directions for progression.

Pursereg Kattuna Documentary Meeting on 18.12.2022
Pursereg Kattuna Documentary Meeting on 18.12.2022

19 December 2022, Initiated contact with Mr. Shravan to establish connections with local artists from diverse locations and various teams.
21 December 2022, Engaged in a discussion with team members regarding the ongoing script development. The script was initiated and collaborated upon using a shared Google Documents platform, with contributions from all experts involved.
22 December 2022 I reached out to Mr. Tanveer Hassan, the Regional Program Officer for South Asia (SA), requesting his assistance in connecting with Dr. Aaryaa Joshi, a member of the South Asia Regional Funds Committee. I also discussed the ongoing progress of the documentary with them, including other updates and developments.
23 December 2022 Online call with documentary team
24 December 2022 We got in touch with the local coordinator of the performing art.
27 December 2022 Contacted 1. Belalu Team, 2. Bajila Team, 3. Kanarpa, 4. Didupe, 5. Shirlalu Team.
27 December 2022 Reached out to local guides and the team leader for further coordination and assistance.
28 December 2022 Had a discussion with Sundara Kenaje and Dr. Vishwanatha Badikana regarding the overall structure of the project.
01 January 2023 Conducted a conference call with Dr. Badikana and Sundara Kenaje to discuss the progress of the documentary work and finalized the date for a Google meet with videographers and other team members.
02 January 2023 Got in touch with Dr. Diva Kokkada, a folk scholar from the Belthangady Region. We discussed the documentary and obtained contact information for the people of Bajil Village.
04 January 2023 Second Google meet with folk scholars and videographers.

Conducted the second Google meet with folk scholars and videographers. During the meeting,

Briefed and shared information about the project.
Discussed the goals and objectives of the documentary.
Covered the "Dos" and "Don'ts" to follow during the documentary production.
Discussed the selection of the Director for the Documentary, nominating Dr. Sundara Kenaje for the role.
Explored script writing and content creation.
Received insights from videographers, Mr. Ranjith Sethu and Mr. Guruprasad Swami Hirematt, regarding videography and photography techniques for the project

Pursereg Kattuna Documentary Meeting on 04.01.2023
File:Pursereg Kattuna Documentary Meeting
Pursereg Kattuna Documentary Meeting on 04.01.2023

06 January 2023 the monthly meeting of the Karavali Wikimedians User Group was held. During the meeting, discussions took place about the documentary project with the Tulu community members. Various aspects of the project were covered and insights were shared with the attendees.

Karavali Wikimedians Meetups 06.01.2023

10 January 2023 Mr. Belyappa and Mr. Yadupathi Gowda provided assistance in acquiring a list of contacts from Belthangady. This support was valuable in connecting with relevant individuals for the project.
14 January 2023 Coordinated with folk artists from Belthangady Taluk and established contact with individuals from Bandaru, Koyyuru, Belalu, and Shirlalu Villages of Belthangady Taluk.
15 January 2023 Dr. Vishwanatha Badikana, Dr. Diva Kokkada, Mr. Belyappa, and Mr. Bharathesha Alasandemajalu conducted a pre-survey of the documentary with village artists from the Belthangady Taluk villages, including Bandaru, Koyyuru and met 30 villagers.

16 January 2023 We had the privilege of participating in a one-hour and twenty-minute Google Hangout with Dr. Aaryaa Joshi, a distinguished folklorist, researcher, and member of the South Asia Regional Funds Committee. Dr. Joshi was responsible for the script of a documentary produced by Mr. and Mrs. Dhananjay Mehendale. During the session, Dr. Joshi generously shared valuable insights on the art of creating documentaries, including techniques for engaging with local artists and villagers, as well as conducting interviews. We found the discussion to be enlightening and educational, and we are grateful for the opportunity to learn from such esteemed experts.

Folklore Documentary Discussion with Dr Aaryaa Joshi and Mr. Mehendale
Folklore Documentary Discussion with Dr Aaryaa Joshi and Mr. Mehendale1

20 January 2023 Documentary team meeting for planning for for coming interviews of expert and videography

1.Strategy,2.Interviewing , 3.Subject Experts, 4. Scholars, 5. Local people , 6. Artists, 7.Young Generation

20 January 2023 We conducted the second pre-documentary survey in Belthangady Taluk at three different locations, where we met with 40 people and engaged in discussions about Pursere Kattuna with the support of villagers.

28 February 2023 Recent updates on the documentation from the documentation team

03 March 2023 An overall plan for the documentary in collaboration with the documentary team

23 March 2023 An overall plan for the documentary in collaboration with the documentary team, along with a movement plan for documentary days

Documentary Time[edit]

03 April 2023 to 08 April 2023

The documentary team arrived in Dharmastala on the late evening of April 3rd. On the morning of April 4th, Dr. Aarya Joshi from Pune joined the team. Early on the morning of April 4th, the team traveled across Dharmastala, Didupe, and beneath the Western Ghat to capture scenic views and shoot drone footage. During the daytime, we visited scholars and experts' homes in Mangalore for interviews, and we also prepared the plan for the late evening dance performance. From April 4th to April 7th, we documented various aspects of performing arts. On April 8th, we returned from Dharmastala, having covered more than 1200 km. The journey was made using three four-wheeler vehicles carrying a total of 12 people. Throughout the documentary journey, we interacted with over 400 villagers, 100+ performing artists, and 10+ organizers and coordinators.

Documentary Team along with Videography Team[edit]

Vishwanatha Badikana
Sundara Kenaje
Yadupathi Gowda
Aarya Joshi
Yakshitha
Ranjith Setu
Guruprasad Hiremath
Tukaram Nidle
Diva Kokkada
Chidanada Kampa
Kirana Alasandemajalu
Bharathesha Alasandemajalu

Along with Taltaje Vasnath Kumar
Bajila

Post Production Meetings[edit]

15 April 2023 Following the post documentary preparation, we captured over 25 hours of footage for a 40-minute documentary. We then shared the entire video with all the team members for them to watch.
28 April 2023 The director of the documentary, Dr. Sundara Kenaje, along with the team, discussed the script and other developmental aspects of the documentary.
27 May 2023 Embarking on the editing journey of the captivating documentary, 'Pursere Kattuna. Convened a productive meeting and engaging discussion with the documentary director and the video editing team
24 June 2023 Initial stages of editing for the documentary is finished.
27 July 2023 Had a discussion regarding music and sound engineering after the secondary editing of the documentary film.

01 August 2023Discussed the translation of the script and voice-over into Kannada and English

01 August 2023 Community meetup to discuss the documentary.

07 Aug 2023 Voice-over recording for the documentary.

01 Sep 2023 Final stage of the documentary discussed about releasing the documentary

15 Sep 2023 Discussed about the releasing program structure.

29 Sep 2023 Karavali Wikimediands User Group Meeting for inviting the releasing program.

Outcome[edit]

We are embarking on a significant journey with the creation and dissemination of the "Pursereg Kattuna" documentary video across our beloved Tulunadu Region. This endeavor holds immense promise, as we anticipate reaching a substantial audience, surpassing the remarkable number of one lakh individuals. This documentary video holds the potential to become a monumental milestone, marking a historic first within our community. It stands as a beacon of scholarly dedication, as it will be the inaugural full-fledged documentary film produced entirely in the eloquent Tulu language.

Our aim is to engage, educate, and captivate the hearts and minds of the people residing within Tulunadu. Through the captivating storytelling and comprehensive exploration presented in the documentary, we aspire to leave an indelible impact on our viewers. The power of visual storytelling transcends linguistic and cultural boundaries, making it an ideal medium to convey the depth and significance of "Pursereg Kattuna" to a broad and diverse audience.

By meticulously crafting this documentary video, we are not only preserving and celebrating our linguistic heritage but also advancing the cause of Tulu culture on a broader scale. The documentary will undoubtedly serve as a valuable resource for future generations, offering them insight into the historical, cultural, and scholarly aspects that make "Pursereg Kattuna" a pivotal subject of exploration.

Documentary Releasing[edit]

Pursereg Kattuna Documentary Releasing, The Karavali Wikimedians User Group, with the support of the Wikimedia Foundation, is in the process of producing a documentary titled Pursa Kattuna. This documentary is scheduled to be released during a program to be held at Vani College in Belthangady on 02 October 2023.

Participants
Falicitation Director Dr Sundara Kenaje
Prof K Chinnappa Gowda

The Youtube link is here

Target outcome	Achieved outcome	Explanation
Number of Communities to be Visited 2	Number of Communities to be Visited 8	Explored over eight diverse communities within the region
Number of field Visits 2	Number of field Visits 8	Conducting pre-documentary surveys on multiple occasions and carrying out five documentary field visits across diverse locations in Belthangady Taluk, Bantwala, and Mangalore Taluk, primarily for engaging in scholar talks and expert discussions
Number of participants - 50	Number of participants - 400	Explored over eight locations, with the participation of more than 400 individuals in the event, including local villagers, artists, scholars, and experts."
Number of editors 6	Number of editors 6
Number of organizers 3	Number of organizers 5	We collaborated with local organizers and coordinators for the 'Pursere Kattuna' performing arts project. We received support from over six organizers for our documentation efforts
Wikimedia Commons Photographs 50	Wikimedia Commons Photographs 300+	Uploaded quality photographs to Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons Video 5	Wikimedia Commons Video 10 + Documentary Film	We produced a 40-minute research-oriented scholarly documentary film, along with uploading short videos to the commons