Jalamudra (Watermark) traces the rich yet often forgotten history of Kerala’s 600 km-long inland canal system, focusing on the West Coast Canal, which was once a thriving maritime route lined with forts, warehouses, and engineering marvels. The film journeys through rare navigation locks, cliff-carved tunnels in Varkala, and historic waterways that connected Kerala to global maritime worlds, from the Suez and Panama Canals to ancient canal systems of the Pharaohs.

Directed by P. Ajith Kumar, a civil engineer and former member of Kerala’s Water Resources Department, the documentary blends technical insight with poetic storytelling. His long engagement with waterways infuses the film with a deep understanding of Kerala’s hydrological past.

Jalamudra also captures living traditions of boat-making and boat races, while acknowledging the darker histories of canal development, including the assassination of Henry Valentine Connolly. The film reflects on how these waterways continue to bind Kerala’s cultural and social fabric despite neglect and pollution

Screening: 12 December 2025, 5 PM

Venue: Heritage Arts & Architecture, Jew Town, Mattancherry