Transcript: Birds of Kundha Kulam

Here in south India, it’s the painful height of the dry season.

In the small town of Kundha Kulam, the time has come for birds to bring rain. Cattle, crops – the livelihood of the village depends on it. But this year, there has been no rain. The great flocks haven’t come to the village, and Kundha Kulam is facing its worst enemy – drought.

Flower Lady- Last year there were many colorful birds that looked like flowers on a tree. But this year, I don’t see any birds on the trees. Usually before January, they’ll start circling the trees, and when the people of the village see them, they know it’s time for the seeds to be sown and they know they’ll have a good harvest.

Reddiar – If the birds come we know we will be prosperous. If they don’t come, there will be trouble. The elders say that as gospel truth and we follow that literally.

But Kundha Kulam is a town of faith.

Here, children are taught early about what birds mean to their village. They are told of how generations ago when the farmers were desperate for rain, the birds answered their prayers.

Even now at the village shrine, people are praying – asking the gods to have mercy, to send help.

The prayers rise up … into the empty skies …

At last, a month overdue, the birds arrive, riding the winds of the monsoon.