Name: S.Gnana Selvam
Guide: Prof. Phani Tetali
Course: Animation and Film Making
Visual Ethnography: Stone Craftsmen Of Thirupuramkundrum
Asari community in Tamil ecosystem Craftsman (Asari) fall in other backward castes (OBC), and are generally respected communities. This could be attributed to the influence of sangam literature and attitude of kings towards the artisans during sagam period, my assumption is that this has transcended to contemporary Tamil Nadu.
Process
Contemporary stone craft in Tamil Nadu The knowledge of stone crafts has exclusively passed down from one generation of Asari to another. With time, the techniques and the knowledge of stone craft propagated within the community and the knowledge base seldom reached outside the community. But in the recent times the children of artisans have taken up various professions. And this posed a serious threat for the survival of stone craft of Tamil Nadu, hence it paved the way for the interested candidates from other castes and backgrounds to learn and work their way in the stone sculpting community.
Tamilakam or the home of the tamils has pioneered in the field of art, craft and architecture. Tamils have mastered the art of stone crafting and the techniques of todays craftsmen date back to 2nd century Bc.