Kalasam is called the arrangement of a brass or silver pot filled with water, holding a coconut amongst mango tree leaves at its mouth. It's regarded as auspicious and used to invoke the Goddess Shakthi in the local culture. The women who take part to the micro credits program of the Madurai area decided to give the name to their saving groups, as their predecessors have done for generations when saving money.
As an alternative to emigration to the metropolitan areas and moneylender politics, women organised themselves gathering money funds to be borrowed on turn, to face hard times or to start small enterprises at the village, still on wage basis: this is the core of micro credit.

Screenplay Anna Pitscheider
Photography (colour) Anna Pitscheider
Editing Gualtiero Benatelli
Music Sudha Ragunathan, Dhyanalingam, Slokam, ISHQ, Orchid, Daisy
Production Kenziproductions, Vittorio Picardi
Year of production 2006
Running time 28’
Format mini DV

Anna Pitscheider

The Italyn author, painter and filmmaker is born in Milan in1966. She studied art, philosophy, semiotics and film theory in Bologna. She attended the Lee Strasberg Sudio in London. She published the book “Sally Potter, working with actors” as result of the period spent working with the director for Tango Lesson. She worked as director assistant for Alessandro D'Alatri, Maurizio Nichetti, Wim Wenders and as production and casting assistant for different productions. As a filmmaker she was commissioned to portrait celebrated designers. As a director she is committed to handle each aspect of the filming. Every year she spends many months of intensive work in India.