The Portrait of Water is a four-part video anthology that brings to the forefront women’s water-centered narratives from Uttara Kannada. Positioned at the intersection of fiction and non-fiction, the work draws from oral traditions and folk storytelling, transforming them into both content and a primary narrative tool. Through the linguistic, cultural, and ecological diversity of the region, the project examines how water, as memory, presence, and force, shapes women’s lives across generations.

The narratives unfold through a rich tapestry of mediums: folk songs, protest archives, photo stories, and moving images, creating an immersive, sensorial visual language. Communities engaged include the Gamokallu, Halakki Vokkaliga, Ambiga, Kharvi, and Siddi. While water remains central, the anthology expands into broader explorations of identity, resistance, and collective memory. In essence, The Portrait of Water is a reflection of water as seen, felt, and narrated by women, constructing a visual and emotional image that flows across time and space.