Papilio Buddha

The film opens in the Meppara Dalit settlement in the Western Ghats, where a displaced community begins to explore a new identity politics rooted in Ambedkarism. The people organize around Buddhist ideals as a response to oppression and a struggle over land. The setting highlights the environmental and social pressures faced by the community.

We meet Shankaran, a young Dalit man who dropped out of JNU, whose insecurity and reticence contrast with his father's unwavering conviction. His father, Kandal Kariyan, embodies a communist legacy and a faith in collective struggle. This dynamic sets up the personal tensions that thread through the story.

Shankaran forms a bond with Jack, a white American lepidopterist who visits the region to study butterflies. He helps Jack catch butterflies, drawing him into the steep hills and forests of the Western Ghats. The pastime foreshadows a deeper connection between them.

It turns out Shankaran and Jack are romantically involved, a revelation that clashes with the community's norms and the elder father's disapproval. The Dalit community's tolerance for homosexuality is described as limited, highlighting social tensions. The pairing becomes a focal point for broader questions about identity and freedom.

Manju, a strong-minded woman driving a rickshaw, confronts prejudice in a male-dominated workplace. Her determination to work and participate in public life challenges patriarchal norms in the settlement. Her grit underscores the film's themes of empowerment within oppressed communities.

Manjusree strikes out against a lecherous union leader, an act that triggers a powerful reaction from the authorities and the community alike. The incident exposes how oppression operates at multiple levels, from personal harassment to organized power. The event heightens tensions within the Dalit movement.

Shankaran is arrested for illegally catching butterflies, a crackdown that fuels resentment and pushes some toward more radical actions. The arrest magnifies the sense of injustice and acts as a catalyst for political awakening. The natural world becomes entangled with social conflict.

The series of violent incidents following the arrest and harassment radicalize many in the Dalit settlement. People begin to question peaceful tactics and embrace more assertive forms of protest. The violence also reveals fractures including among queer members who push for broader rights.

The community abandons Gandhi's methods in favor of more militant actions. The film tracks how political strategies evolve as oppression intensifies and the desire for justice grows. This shift marks a turning point in the movement's direction.

Escalating oppression propels the displaced Dalits to embrace Buddhism as part of a renewed collective identity. The new faith provides a unifying framework for resistance and a redefinition of dignity. The process cements a cultural shift within the community.

The film places the community within larger land struggles that echo across India, showing how property and political power shape daily life. Oppression by powerful establishments compounds the Dalit's fight for rights and resources. The narrative locates local conflict within a broader national context.

Outside forces threaten the Western Ghats' pristine habitats as they seek land or resources. Environmental harm becomes intertwined with social oppression, intensifying the struggles faced by Meppara's residents. The film links ecological degradation to the political and personal crises at the heart of the story.