Muthanga Uprising: The Real Life Story Behind Tovino Thomas' 'Narivetta' (Image-Instagram/ttovino)
Director Anuraj Manohar is all set to present an impactful, real-life-inspired story with his upcoming action thriller, Narivetta. Headlined by Tovino Thomas, the raw and gritty film is set to explore the fight of the tribal villagers against oppressive forces.
Produced by Indian Cinema Company, Narivetta promises to feature the struggle of the oppressed tribal community and the brutal reality behind the oppression. Intending to offer a realistic experience, the film stars a stellar cast that includes prominent actors like Tovino, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Cheran, Arya Salim and others. The action thriller will hit theatres tomorrow, May 23.
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Touted to be a film inspired by real life, writer Abin Joseph curated the story based on more than one true incident. More than a film, Narivetta is expected to be a reflection of reality. Despite narrating a specific incident, director Anuraj and his team have tried to offer a story that was widely influenced by the real-life issues.
Setting the 2003 Muthanga incident as the film’s backdrop, the film highlights real-life challenges faced by indigenous communities in Kerala. Narivetta unfolds in a tribal village where the local community fights to protect their ancestral land.
The storyline captures the villagers’ resilience in the face of injustice and the complex web of politics and power that challenges their cause. Here is all you need to know about the 2003 Muthanga incident that influenced the narrative of journalist and writer Abin Joseph.
The Muthanga Uprising (2003)
The Adivasis of Muthanga village in Kerala had long requested the Congress-led state government to provide them land for their well-being in addition to rehabilitation measures. Subsequently, an agreement was met between the then Chief Minister A.K. Antony and the tribal communities in 2001, earmarking 19,000 acres of land for distribution among tribals, but the promise fell flat.
This pushed the tribal community to relocate to Muthanga Forest. In 2003, under the banner of Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha (AGMS), they occupied the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary in Wayanad to demand land rights and the implementation of the Kerala Land Reforms Act.
On the morning of February 19, they gathered to protest against the government’s delay in allotting the land. As part of the eviction, the Forest Department allegedly set fire to their huts and fed alcohol to domesticated elephants to induce the animals to attack their huts.
As the protest escalated, the Kerala police fired 18 rounds, resulting in the immediate death of two, one of whom was police constable KV Vinod. While the tribal community accused the police and forest staff of attacking them, the police officials claimed that the protestors charged at them with axes and knives.
In a subsequent statement, the state government placed the official death toll at five. Footage of the firing was aired on several news programs.
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Chengara Land Struggle (2007)
Another similar incident was the Chengara land struggle, which began in 2007. The ongoing controversy is centred on the occupation of a rubber plantation owned by Harrison Malayalam Ltd. in the Chengara region of Pathanamthitta district.
In 2007, under the leadership of Laha Gopalan, a prominent Dalit activist, protesters demanded the allocation of land and financial assistance for cultivation. Their primary demands included five acres of cultivable land and Rs 50,000 in financial aid per family. The demand was later reduced to one acre of land.
The decade-long protest resulted in the death of at least 13 individuals due to the challenging circumstances and the torture and rape of four women. The women testified that the attacks had taken place in the presence of police who remained as mere onlookers.
The eviction is still in progress, and the Adivasi and Dalits are still waiting for a piece of land.
As of 2024, approximately 2,000 individuals from marginalised communities in Chengara remain disenfranchised, with their names removed from voter lists after participating in the land protests.
Watch the trailer here:
