IGNCA has undertaken a major audio-visual documentation of boatman culture of peninsular India to look into the lifestyle of traditional people whose main occupation is fishing.

The Boatmen of Gujarat are called “Mangelas” and they represent the fishing community of this state. The film covers the areas spreading from “Surveda village” in Valsad district to Maharashtra’s Greater Bombay. The inhabitants are also known as Dhivars or Tandels.

The film studies the living style of the community –their culture, customs, day to day activities and literacy level. It has been revealed through the film that the fishing profession mainly belongs to the upper cast community and its changing pattern as well.