Bridging the Gap
The Untold Story of Karnataka’s Siddi Athletes
On a racetrack deep in the interiors of the Dharwad district in Karnataka, our team was busy beating the scorching heat and keeping locals at bay from interrupting a shoot. That’s when a curious passerby, a man in his early sixties, nudged our producer, Anna, on her arm. “Where are you all from?” he asked. Preoccupied with the hectic production work, she responded, without looking up, that they were all from Karnataka. “You might be, but they’re not.” She looked up to see him pointing at the four girls - dark-skinned, curly hair and African features. He was talking about Siddi athletes.
Sprinting into the Spotlight
Centuries ago, during the height of the Indian Ocean trade, Portuguese and Arab traders brought the ancestors of the Siddis from East Africa to India. Today, many Siddis reside in the Uttara Kannada district, having sharp afro features, but living a unique yet quintessentially Indian life. They savour rice and dal, speak Kannada with a hint of Marathi, and celebrate their heritage through vibrant dances and festivities.
But what truly sets the Siddis apart is their remarkable ability to sprint. Despite their modest backgrounds and minimal training, their genetic advantages enable them to compete at district and state-level sports tournaments.
Bridges of Sports, a Bengaluru-based NGO, recognised the Siddi community's potential and integrated a sports ecosystem tailored to tribal communities across northern Karnataka. By organising athletic meets and building trust among the locals, the NGO has nurtured Siddi athletes through training, mentorship, and education, paving the way for these promising athletes and future coaches.
Capturing the Spirit
In early March, Bridges of Sports partnered with LastBench, united by a shared desire to bring the inspiring story of the Siddis to light. The intention was to join hands and explore creative ways of telling their story, and in our cinematographer Meghna’s words, the film had to be not just about the athletes but also spark a discussion about the Siddis as a community, highlighting their journey, culture, and identity - as they are.
With these ideas in mind, our team set off to Yellapur to meet the athletes in person and map out the logistics of the shoot. Our interactions with the locals revealed a side of the Siddis that made us realise how despite being so disconnected from the urban landscape, there were still some common threads of conversation - with the biggest one being music, known to transcend all cultural and language barriers. The families were hospitable, and when asked to play some songs, they pulled out makeshift instruments and jammed together. Inspired by Sneha Khanwalkar's rendition of the popular folk song 'Yere Yere,' our producer, Anna, took a chance and asked if they knew the song. To our delight, the ladies' faces lit up, and they started playing the notes, giving us the perfect track for the film - which was notably ready before we even began shooting.
With these building blocks finally in space, Nikhil started visualising the film. While the action plan was to capture the athletes running at top speed, the heat was scorching down during the shoot, making it nearly impossible for us to shoot and for the athletes to keep giving us more takes. But with some persistence from both ends, we were able to capture them in all their glory.
Inhibitions, experiences, and the lessons learned
It is the winning combination of athletic prowess, supportive community and Bridges of Sports’ sincere care and attention throughout, that made ‘Minchu’ the film it is today. Shooting an action sports film was a new challenge for us, diverging from our usual paced, interview-based style of films. A whirlwind of 1.5-second shots resulted in over 1.2 TB of footage, which the team stitched beautifully into a two-and-a-half-minute film, rich with compelling visuals of the Siddi tribe and their budding sprinters.
Ultimately, creating the brand film for Bridges of Sports underscored the power of sensitive storytelling and genuine connections. It bridged the gap between those in front of and behind the lens, highlighting the profound impact of capturing and sharing authentic stories.