KOCHI: For the average Malayali, his/her only exposure to prison life has been through movies such as 'Mathiluakal' 'New Delhi', 'Bhoothakkannadi', 'Munnariyippu', 'Swathanthryam Ardharathriyil' and 'Welcome to Central Jail'.
But the filmmakers are often guilty of failing to portray a realistic picture of life behind bars. In many cases, the historical significance of jails are not depicted properly.
This is all set to change with the Prisons Department planning to produce a documentary on jails in Kerala.
"We are planning to bring out a film that will provide information about life inside prisons in Kerala," said R Sreelekha, director general of Prisons and Correctional Services. "We would like to incorporate the history of jails in Kerala in the film. It will also have information about how jails in Kerala have evolved over the years. The traditions associated with jails will be part of the film."
"We would like to provide a 3D or 4D experience to the public about life inside jails. However, since the project is still in the planning stages, more information will be made available later," she added.
The documentary will be part of the Prison Museum for which the state government has sanctioned Rs 6 crore.
"We had sought a fund of Rs 9 crore for the museum and associated projects. The government has sanctioned Rs 6 crore for the next two years," said an officer with the Prisons Department.
"The museum at Viyyur in Thrissur will be the first of its kind in India. There will be enclosures in which people can spend 24 hours to experience life inside prison. There will be separate cells for women and men. The museum will have British-era records, warrants, registers, torture equipment and other equipment such as motors and utensils on display."
There are also plans to recreate underground cells, condemned cells and dark cells that even prisoners have not seen before. There will be a cafeteria and shops where products made by prisoners will be on sale.
There are three central prisons, two open prisons, 11 district jails, three women's prisons, one women's open prison, one borstal school, 16 special sub-jails and 16 sub-jails in Kerala. As part of the reformation programme, prisoners learn many skills such as making food products.