KOCHI: Many of us might have played with a boomerang in our childhood. However, most of us really don’t know that these were originally used as weapons, primarily for hunting. There are different types of boomerangs: some have unusual shapes to amaze people and there are some other traditionally made ones. These are made using materials such as plywood. Sreejesh K V is one such artist who is an expert in making traditional wooden boomerangs.
His interest in making boomerangs started at a very young age as he was always inclined towards art and crafts. “During my childhood, I was always keen in making different types of creative objects. I used to experiment with paper, wood and other materials to make artworks. It was during this time that I thought of making a boomerang,” said Sreejesh. He has made more than 60 boomerangs.
A self-taught boomerang expert, he says, “For a successful flight, it should be seen that the boomerang is thrown correctly. It should be held near the end of one wing with the top (curved) surface facing the thrower’s body. One side is made in a more curved form as when it is thrown in the air, it can come back to the thrower itself.”
Sreejesh, who is a PWD overseer in Kasargod, has been making boomerangs for more than five years now. He says that there is a mechanism that is to be followed. A returning boomerang is basically two wings joined at an angle between 80 and 120 degrees, although it can have more than two wings. The wings are arranged so they work best when the boomerang is rotating, rather than flying straight like an aeroplane. The combination of spin with a forward motion causes uneven lift on the wings. This is because, at any given time, one wing rotates in the same direction of the flight, while the other rotates backwards against the direction of the flight.
“The dimensions are made in a cross-sectional manner and a lot of practice is required to excel in it. I made boomerangs by looking at YouTube videos,” he says. “I had to make it multiple times as I was not getting the correct angle. Unless the curve is right, the boomerang won’t return.”
Sreejesh also does sculptures and paintings. One of his wooden boomerangs is also kept in Sila Museum.