Threads of Tradition: Tradition Under Attack

By Alex Silverman

Threads of Tradition is directed, produced, edited, written, and cinematographed by Eshaan Mani. In the village of Darasuram in South India, a tradition held by the locals for over 1000 years is on the line.

This short documentary follows the Arivu family, residing near the world-famous Airavatesvara Temple. For generations, they’ve worked as handloom weavers, creating and selling saris, a traditional women’s garment. Now, the Arivu family faces numerous challenges: a lack of resources, rising automation, and the aftermath of COVID-19.

The film adeptly covers a lot in its short runtime. It was fascinating to witness the Arivu family’s handwoven garment-making process and understand why they persist despite their fears. Exploring Indian culture is always captivating, especially witnessing families like this one striving for their desires despite many obstacles.

I rate this film 4 out of 5 stars.

Alex is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a major in Comedic Writing & Performance and a minor in Writing for Television. Apart from his work as part of the Planet Classroom Network Film Selection team at CMRubinWorld, he is a sketch writer, and pursuing a career in acting in New York City.

Author: C. M. Rubin

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