Tribal Culture in Wayanad | Ep 9: SAGA with Manu S Pillai ft. Manikuttan Paniyan & Bindu Irulam

Most think of tribal culture in cliches and stereotypes. But it is a far more fascinating world, with its own inner diversity, politics, and distinctive cultural practices. In Episode 9 of SAGA, we engage with two powerful voices from marginalised tribal groups in Kerala: Manikuttan Paniyan and Bindu Irulam. In the first half of the episode, Manikuttan takes us through the story of the Paniya community, and its past and present. In the second half, Bindu introduces us to the lore, song, poetry, and language of the Kattunayakar tribe. Both ultimately hope their tribal identity will be preserved and protected as younger generations engage with the world beyond Wayanad--a message of positivity and expectation. Credits: Creative Director & DoP: Yadu Krishna Voice over: Manu S Pillai Music: Charu Hariharan Cameras: Vimal Hari, Jothis Jain Editing: Varunraj CR Logistics: Akshai Augustin Executive Producer: Sruthin Lal -- 00:00 Episode Intro 00:49 SAGA Series Intro 01:09 Setting context and introducing Manikuttan and Bindhu Irulam 02:28 Tribal identity, clothing and reclaiming the name "Paniyan" 05:02 Paniya tribe history, slavery and bonded labour in Kerala 06:52 Challenges faced by tribal children in Kerala schools 08:18 Identity, political awakening and systemic failures 09:32 Facebook activism and online backlash 10:23 Inequality within tribes, reservation and land rights 12:27 Building a tribal school in Wayanad 14:24 Gender, live-in relationships and tribal society 15:53 Preserving tribal culture in education 17:24 Bindu's tribal poetry and Kattunayakar language 19:33 Saving endangered tribal languages in Kerala 21:12 Traditional tribal songs and oral history 25:03 Nature worship, ancestor worship and tribal beliefs 28:11 Traditional food, clothing and the future of tribal culture -- The Archival and Research Project (ARPO) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to discovering, documenting, and sharing lesser-known aspects of cultural heritage in accessible and creative ways. We have won recognitions such as Unesco Asia Pacific Cultural Heritage Conservation Awards, 2023 Founded in 2021 as a collective, ARPO is driven by a shared belief that a deeper understanding of culture and heritage is essential to building a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future. We work at the intersection of research, storytelling, and community engagement to reconnect people with their roots. ARPO is registered as a Society under the Travancore–Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1955. Follow Arpo on other social media platforms:   / arpo.in     / arpo_in     / arpo.kl