Vinodh is a devoted father, a loyal friend, and a Tigerman. This film provides a rare glimpse of a man and his community as they come together to celebrate Pulikali—a 200-year-old tiger festival. Director Lisa Gunning and executive producer Alison Goldfrapp took their film to the Kerala to capture Vinodh among the vibrantly-painted procession of performers who prowl the streets of Thrissur every year, tirelessly entertaining crowds by evoking the power and magnetism of a tiger.

Tigerman is a film with epic intimacy, exploring themes of identity, spirituality, and cultural tradition. NOWNESS caught up with Gunning and Goldfrapp to find out more about their project:

How did you both hear about Pulikali and what prompted the film?

The idea came when Alison Goldfrapp and I were in Kerala on holiday. We went into an antique shop and picked up a battered seventies postcard with men dressed in brightly-colored tiger costumes. We both became obsessed with this utterly inspiring and vibrant image, which really spoke to our souls.

Alison went off and wrote a song called “Tigerman” and I became obsessed with finding out more about the festival. The two things collided and became a film. The real magic started to happen when world-famous cinematographer Ashim Prakash Bajaj got involved and ended up producing the film with his incredible crew.

What is your interpretation of the significance of the festival?

The literal meaning of Pulikali is the “play of tigers” and this is one of the most important festivals in Kerala. The festival brings the community together in the form of dance and art. It’s a wonderful event that can sometimes last for days.

Gunning, how has this experience differed from other projects? What have you been able to do differently as a director?

It was a rare and beautifully free creative process. I wanted to discover the film as we went, tuning in and responding to people and places, listening as opposed to dictating. It was a life-changing experience for me. I feel blessed to have collaborated with such a magical bunch of people who couldn’t have been more generous of heart. I think we all learned a lot, not only about filmmaking but about life, the universe, kindness, and spirituality. I’ll be forever grateful for the experience.

Goldfrapp, from feminist literary heroes to geological formations, your music has found connections to many things. How did you go about writing Tigerman?

I was so struck by that postcard. I hadn’t seen anything like it before. As I didn’t know the story behind it yet, I made up my own. There's an enduring fascination with nature and the wild across cultures and I’m inspired by the many rituals that have emerged from this. The song describes a man, who at night, roams the forests and hills. He finds solace and freedom as he morphs into the immortal tiger he honors and reveres.