Aiswarya’s
AN ODE TO MY GRANDMOTHER
Aiswarya Raj
Concept Note:
"How sad it must be for those born in cities without beaches." I often muse to my friends as we enjoy our usual evening chai and conversations by the shore. Growing up in Kozhikode, visits to the beach were a nearly daily ritual. Watching the waves gently lap the shore and the sun set on the horizon is a sight I could never tire of. However, after leaving my hometown for higher education, I came to understand that visiting the beach is a luxury I can no longer take for granted, especially when I'm far from home.
Therefore, whenever I'm back home for vacations, I make it a point to visit the beach as often as I can. One day, as usual, I was tying my red converse shoes and slinging my camera over my shoulder, ready to head out, when I noticed my grandmother sitting in the courtyard with a book in her hand. Normally, I would just wave goodbye and leave, but this time, for some reason, I felt compelled to ask if she wanted to come along. She set her book aside, looked at me with a gentle smile, and said something that struck me to my core:
"I haven't been to the beach in the past ten years, not since your grandfather passed away."
The weight of her words settled heavily in my chest, and I felt a deep pang of regret for not asking her sooner. I apologized softly, my voice thick with emotion, and without another word, I took her with me. I held her hand as we walked along the shores of Beypore beach. She began to share stories from her childhood, recounting her first visit to the beach with her sisters and the cherished weekly outings with my Achachan (grandfather). Her eyes sparkled with the joy of a little girl waiting for a candy, while the waves gently caressed our feet. We had black tea and parippuvada from a nearby beach stall, lingering there until the sun set, painting the sky with its golden hues.
I'm certain that, like myself, many of us grew up with our grandparents, discovering through them the true meaning of unconditional love. Yet, as we grow older, we often take this love for granted and fail to pause and reflect. This video serves as a tribute to my grandmother and to grandparents everywhere, offering a gentle reminder to cherish the moments we share with them. As they age, solitude can often set in, and simple acts—asking how they're doing, taking them out, or sharing a warm hug—can make a world of difference. Love transcends mere sentiment; it is manifested through our actions.
Bio:A recent postgraduate from IIT Gandhinagar with a Master’s in Society & Culture, a budding social scientist and visual storyteller. She previously completed her undergraduate studies in English Literature at Hindu College, University of Delhi. With a keen interest in Visual Anthropology and Media Studies, her research explores the everydayness of photography and the beauty in the mundane. She is interested in documenting the calmness within the chaos of society, with her videos often evoking a sense of nostalgia. Currently, Aiswarya is working as a Project Associate at the Centre for Public Policy Research in Kochi, focusing on film studies.