Light on the water, a documentary film directed by Lygia Mathews, portrays the thriving of a 1000-year-old tradition of snakeboat race in Kerala untouched by momentous changes in its society.

The 25-minute film screened here over the week-end, explores communal participation, competition and various traditions attached to the making of chundan vallam (snakeboat).

The debut film by the director, which is set in Aranmula on the banks of the Pamba river in central Kerala, also depicts the bonhomie over the race.

``In our days we used to chant Kuchelavrittam (an epic on the enduring friendship between Lord Krishna and Kuchela, a poor Brahmin). But today, we hear only songs on Karl Marx and Lenin,'' says an old villager in the film.

The film, the result of thedirector's urge to show the positive sides of the State ``when portrayal by the media is often negative'', has interviews with people belonging to various sections of the society to understand traditions behind snakeboats.

Every year, the 28 villages of the area enter one boat each for the race, a matter of pride and prestige.

``If one village is not able to enter in the race it is considered a bad omen for them,'' says a resident of Kurianoor village, the making of whose boat is shown in the film.

Every family, regardless of their economic position, contributes to the preparations for the race. The poor even sell off a few old utensils to put in their mite.

Nadiyozhukunnu (the river flows), a poem by popular Malayalam poet Kadamanitta Ramakrishnan, provides the background score for the film. Kadamanitta, who lives in the same area is also interviewed.

Nadiyozhukunnu, nadiyozhukunnu, adimodamunarnnu, jeevithagadhayayi nadiyozhukunnu, (the river flows, on flows the river, awakeningmemories, singing the song of life, the river flows), sings the poet as relationship between the people and the Pamba river is shown through varying shots.

The film, which uses a live soundtrack, also shows different stages in the making of a snakeboat and various religious prayers attached to its launching. Only the mistry is allowed to enter the boat till the ceremony is over.

The hammering of planks, which is done to a rhythm, reverberates throughout the film, a telling experience of the people's ambition to carry forward a tradition.