''Thariode'' is a 2021 Malayalam-language documentary film directed by Nirmal Baby Varghese about the history of

gold mining Gold mining is the extraction of gold by mining. Historically, mining gold from Alluvium, alluvial deposits used manual separation processes, such as gold panning. The expansion of gold mining to ores that are not on the surface has led to mor ...

in Thariyode and its impact on the environment. The film also focuses other gold mining areas of Malabar on 19th century. The film includes interviews with figures such as historians K. K. N. Kurup, Mundakkayam Gopi, O K Johnny, and other native persons. The film produced by Baby Chaithanya and narrated by

Aliyar Aliyar is one of the tributaries of the river Kannadipuzha. ''Kannadipuzha'' is one of the main tributaries of the river Bharathapuzha, the second-longest river in Kerala, south India. Its source is the Aliyar reserve forest in Aliyar near ...

Plot

Thariode, tells the story of

in Thariyode, one of the most ancient cities of the

Malabar region The Malabar Coast () is the southwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. It generally refers to the western coastline of India stretching from Konkan to Kanyakumari. Geographically, it comprises one of the wettest regions of the subcontin ...

, a long, narrow coastline on the southwestern shore line of the mainland

Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a physiographic region of Asia below the Himalayas which projects into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west. It is now divided between Bangladesh, India, and Pakista ...

. The film also charts the history of gold mining in other areas of Malabar ( Thalappuzha,

Devala In Hinduism, Devala was one of the great ''rishis'' or sages. He is acknowledged to be a great authority like Narada and Vyasa and is mentioned by Arjuna in ''Bhagavad Gita'' (10.13). According to the Devanga Purana, Sage Devala is the progeni ...

Nilagiri Nilagiri is a town and a Notified Area Council in Balasore district in the Indian state of Odisha. History Nilgiri is a very small town but replete with rich history and heritage. Its history can be traced back to the Palaeolithic age. I ...

Nilambur Nilambur () is a major town, a municipality and a Taluk in the Malappuram district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is located close to the Nilgiri Mountains, Nilgiris range of the Western Ghats on the banks of the Chaliyar River. This place is ...

and

Chaliyar Chaliyar River () is the fourth longest river in Kerala at 169 km in length. The Chaliyar is also known as Chulika River, Nilambur River or Beypore River as it is near the sea. Pothukal, Chungathara, Nilambur, Mampad, Edavanna, Kavano ...

) during the 19th century. The film analyses the impact that gold mining – still one of the dirtiest industries in the world – had on the development of the country, the local livelihoods and the environmental repercussions on nature and the territory. The film also discusses the current feasibility of gold mining in Thariode town, which was evacuated in order to create the reservoir for the

Banasura Sagar Dam Banasura Sagar Dam, situated in Padinjarathara in Kerala is the largest earth dam in India and second largest dam in Asia. Banasura Dam is under the control of Padinjarathara KSEB Station. India's first operating floating solar power plant w ...

Soundtrack

The original

background score A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film. The score comprises a number of orchestral, instrumental, or choral pieces called cues, which are timed to begin and end at specific points during the film in order to ...

is composed by British composer Owain Hoskins.

Release

Film started streaming on the American OTT platform ''Diverse Cinema'' from 11 June 2022. Started streaming on

Amazon Prime Video Amazon Prime Video, known simply as Prime Video, is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming television service owned by Amazon. The service primarily distributes films and television series produced or co-produced by ...

from 23 September 2022. Also available for streaming on Plex TV. Film was uploaded on 29 September 2024 onto the Casablanca Film Factory's YouTube channel.

Awards and accolades

Awards

Film festival official selections

Remake

On 28 June 2019, director Nirmal announced a fictionalization of ''Thariode'', starring Australian-British actor Bill Hutchens. The cinematic remake is titled ''"Thariode: The Lost City"'', and also stars

Roger Ward Roger Ward (born 24 July 1937)Wilmingham, Margot "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of. Australian Showbiz is an Australian actor and scriptwriter who has had a considerable career in film and television, noted for "tough guy" roles in which he of ...

Luing Andrews Luing ( ; ) is one of the Slate Islands, Firth of Lorn, in the west of Argyll in Scotland, about south of Oban. The island has an area of and is bounded by several small skerries and islets. It has a population of around 200 people, mostly livi ...

Alexx O'Nell Alexander Leonard O'Neill (born 26 July 1980) is an American actor and musician who works in Indian films. He is best known for his roles in the films '' L2: Empuraan'', '' Ae Watan Mere Watan'', '' Khufiya'', '' Golondaaj'', '' Roohi'', '' Aarya ...

, Courtney Sanello, Amelie Leroy, and Brendan Byrne in supporting roles.

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, 8593946 2021 films Indian short documentary films 2021 short documentary films Documentary films about nature Documentary films about mining Documentary films about environmental issues Environmental issues in India Films about mining Films shot in Kozhikode