Kohima, January 7 (MExN): Kunemechi: A Home Carved in Ancestry, a short documentary from filmmaker Bharatbala’s Virtual Bharat Nagaland series, premiered on Friday, December 26, on Virtual Bharat’s official YouTube channel.
The film offers an intimate portrait of Chakhesang Naga heritage through a traditional wooden home built entirely by master woodcarver Veswuzo Phesao. Through the house and its maker, the documentary explores indigenous craftsmanship, ancestral values and cultural continuity passed down through generations.
At the centre of Kunemechi is a hand-carved wooden house constructed by Phesao himself, using strong logs, clean architectural lines and patient, disciplined craftsmanship. The structure reflects the traditional Naga approach to building, where architecture is seen as an extension of identity, ancestral knowledge and lived values.
Rooted in extensive research and on-ground engagement, the film follows a community-led storytelling approach. Filmmaker Bharatbala said the effort was to ensure that the documentary did not carry an external or observational gaze.
“The challenge was to ensure the film never felt like an outsider’s gaze. We wanted it to feel as though the community itself made the film. This house is not just a structure; it carries generations within its walls,” Bharatbala said.
Inside the house, ancestral utensils, horns and community artefacts are carefully preserved, alongside traditions that emphasise deep respect for one’s parents and elders. Reflecting on his way of life, Phesao said, “I saw my forefathers’ way of living from my childhood. I continue to live like this so that young people can learn from me.”
Through this personal lens, Kunemechi functions as a living archive of Nagaland’s indigenous wisdom and enduring cultural practices.
The documentary is part of Virtual Bharat, Bharatbala’s long-term initiative to create 1,000 films across India, aimed at connecting audiences with the country’s diverse cultural landscapes and indigenous knowledge systems.
Kunemechi was unveiled in Kohima by Academy Award-winning composer A.R. Rahman. The film is produced by Studio Virtual Bharat in association with the Rural India Supporting Trust and The Hans Foundation, and is now streaming on Virtual Bharat’s official platforms.
Credits:
Created by: Bharatbala; Director: Anagha Acharekar; Director of Photography: Amal Sudhakaran; Music: Aditya Rao; Editors: Pratik Basankar, Rana Prathap Avuti; Sound Recordist: Adwin Baruah; Colourist: Yash Khaire; Sound Design: M Praveen Raj; Sound Mix: Vasudevan; Voice Over (Child): Shanaya Akshay; Instrumentalists: Will Shine (Percussion & Keyboard Synthesizers), Gnarly G (Flute); Post-production: Darshit Dalvi, Harendra Rawat; Production Assistant: Raynor Tellis; 2nd Unit Cinematography: Dhruba Jyoti Das; Photography: Apu Das; Camera Team: Prakash Bamne, Sohan Thakur; Creative Team: Sainath Uskaikar, Rachana Dubey; Executive Producer: Lynette D’Mello; Produced by: Studio Virtual Bharat.
About Virtual Bharat:
Virtual Bharat is a nationwide storytelling initiative founded by filmmaker Bharatbala, with the aim of documenting 1,000 stories from across India that celebrate indigenous knowledge, craftsmanship and lived cultural heritage, one story at a time.
