The Brought Culture

The Brought Culture is a collection of photographs from the documentary of Kaaman Koothu.

Kaman Koothu is a traditional folk performance art practiced by Malaiyaha (Upcountry) Tamils in Sri Lanka. The community was first brought to Sri Lanka in the first half of the 19th century by British as colonisers to work on the island’s plantations. Having lived for many generations nurturing the soil, Malaiyaha Tamils are still denied proper land rights and confined to slave-like living conditions.

Kaman Koothu is a vibrant, overnight dance drama (Koothu) that depicts the story of Manmathan (Kaman) disrupting Lord Shiva’s meditation, being burned by Shiva’s wrath, and the lamentation of his wife, Rathi. Despite enduring hardships and systemic marginalization, Malaiyaha Tamils have preserved their culture across generations.

The particular village I visited has been performing this tradition for the past 42 years, passing it down from one generation to the next with the same intention and passion.

Gear -Fujifilm X100VI | location - stony cliff, Sri Lanka.