Flavours of Batticaloa – Documentary
Uncovering and recording Batticaloa’s disappearing traditional food culture, recipes, and oral histories before they are forgotten forever.
Project Overview: Culinary Heritage
Batticaloa's food culture is a unique blend of coastal, lagoon, and agricultural traditions, passed down through generations. However, many of the oldest, most authentic recipes and cooking techniques are known only to a few elders and risk disappearing with them. This documentary project is an urgent effort to preserve this intangible cultural heritage.
We are recording and documenting:
- ✔ Traditional recipes and ingredients known to elders
- ✔ Unique cooking methods and utensils
- ✔ Oral histories of food origins and cultural significance
Who Benefits from this Documentation?
A. Diaspora Families & Youth
For those who grew up away from Batticaloa or want to learn their grandparents' recipes.
This project offers them:
- Authentic, step-by-step video guides and written recipes
- A direct connection to ancestral flavours and traditions
- Preserved knowledge of traditional ingredients and their health benefits
- A meaningful way to teach the next generation
- The full, cultural story behind every dish
This is more than a cookbook—it is a culinary memory bank.
B. Chefs & Food Researchers
- Anthropologists studying South Asian culinary history
- Restaurateurs seeking authentic regional dishes
- Documentary filmmakers and cultural journalists
- Nutritionists studying ancient dietary practices
We provide:
- ✔ Detailed ingredient lists and measurements
- ✔ High-definition video recording of cooking processes
- ✔ Contextual notes on festivals, rituals, and food pairings
- ✔ Verified oral histories from the source
Researchers gain immediate access to primary, validated cultural data for their work.
C. Cultural Enthusiasts
Anyone who cherishes the diversity and history of food.
Enthusiasts enjoy:
- High-quality, free-access short-form documentary videos
- Behind-the-scenes interviews with local culinary masters
- Insights into the history of staple ingredients (e.g., Samba Rice, Lagoon Fish)
- Discovering unique, regional-specific cooking styles
Our documentation turns recipes into history lessons, adding depth and context.
D. Local Community & Elders
The project ensures the legacy of:
- Traditional knowledge is respected and recorded accurately
- Elders are recognized as cultural masters
- A new generation is educated on their heritage
- Recipes remain accessible for future community use
Impact for Locals:
- Authentic cultural preservation
- Increased pride in regional cuisine
- Opportunity for cultural tourism development
We are creating a valuable community archive to secure their culinary identity.
Our Documentation Process
Our team works closely with knowledgeable elders in various Batticaloa villages. The process involves respectful one-on-one video interviews, careful measurement of ingredients, and high-quality filming of the entire preparation, cooking, and serving process.
- ✔ Identify & Interview: Locate elders who hold rare recipe knowledge.
- ✔ Detailed Documentation: Record exact ingredients and preparation steps.
- ✔ Video Recording: Film the cooking process with professional quality.
- ✔ Cultural Context: Capture oral histories, proverbs, and rituals associated with the food.
- ✔ Post-Production: Produce a free documentary and a paid detailed recipe book/guide.
How We Publish
How Paid Access Funds Preservation
When you purchase the full Recipe & Research Guide, you are directly funding the **fieldwork and documentation costs** necessary to record this vanishing knowledge. The proceeds are allocated specifically to sustain and expand our cultural initiatives.
💎 Your purchase supports:
- Field Logistics (transport, accommodation for fieldwork in remote villages)
- Equipment (cameras, audio recorders, lighting for high-quality documentation)
- Remuneration for Elders (a respectful payment for their time and invaluable knowledge)
- Video Editing & Production (turning raw footage into accessible content)
- Long-term Archiving (securing the digital files for future generations)
Sample Recipe Breakdown: Prawn Puttu (இறால் புட்டு)
Traditional Ingredient Focus
Main Ingredients: Fresh Lagoon Prawns (Shrimp), Roasted Rice Flour, Coconut Milk, Kaffir Lime Leaves.
Cultural Context Note
“Fish Puttu is a classic Batticaloa coastal dish, traditionally prepared by women after the morning catch. It showcases the region’s unique access to lagoon seafood and is often served during special family gatherings.”
Key Technique Highlight
“The proper method involves steaming the Puttu before incorporating the prawn curry, ensuring the rice flour remains fluffy and absorbs the gravy without becoming dense.”
🌿 Why Your Support Matters
Your generosity funds the critical fieldwork needed to record and archive the living heritage of Batticaloa’s food culture.
Documentary Filming
Capturing the complex cooking processes in high definition.
Recipe Documentation
Precise measurement and verification of ingredients for accuracy.
Fieldwork Logistics
Enabling our team to reach remote villages for interviews.
Elder Interviews
Recording invaluable first-hand oral histories and food origins.
Digital Archiving
Securing the long-term preservation of all video and written records.
Community Support
Providing respectful remuneration to the elders for their time and wisdom.
🌟 Taste the History. Preserve the Flavour.
Support our fieldwork, pre-order the guide, or follow the documentary series.
Support the Project