Introduction

KARUPPAN productions are dedicated to the documentation of Indian and Southeast Asian culture. We produce thematic photo-CDs and video CDs on cultural events, folkloristic arts and crafts, and interesting sites.

Our main focus is on South India, especially on Tamilnadu and Kerala.

But our interest also lies in the cultural connections between India and Southeast Asia, and hence we include in our line of production documentaries on Indian cultural influence in Southeast Asian countries, to begin with: Singapore, Indonesia (Bali), and Cambodia (Angkor). Occasional documentaries on striking cultural features which are original to Southeast Asia may also be found (e.g. a documentary video on Balinese cockfight).

KARUPPAN productions is a small enterprise which works with a very narrow profit-line. The members of this enterprise are researchers — mainly in the fields of Indology, Cultural Anthropology and Comparative Studies of Religion — who hope to create through this initiative a portal for the distribution of documentary video- and photo-material largely meant for academic purposes.

Our video-documentations want to give a first-hand experience of the subject shown. Thus, we refrain from using elaborate technical arrangements and special effects. Our films always provide the original soundtrack - as found on site - either with an explanatory voice-over or with explanations in subtitles.

Our thematic photo-CDs try to document the subject shown in a broad and at the same time deep manner, carrying sufficient explanatory text to explain and connect the visuals.

All our products should be understood as results of original research projects.

KARUPPAN productions

M. Saravanan