WEAVING FIRE

This translation of M.V. Venkatram’s Tamil classic novel, Velvi Thee, is based on theives of aittle-known Saurashtrian silk weavers’ community in Tamil Nadu.

A highly skilled and hard-working weaver, Kannan’sife has always been a battle of exploitation and
survival—first by his own family members andater by unscrupulous middlemen who made sure the
weavers remained impoverished. The story begins with rainsashing and ruining the weavers’ village,
including Kannan and his wife Kausalai’s home andooms. Kannan’s economic ruin provides his
long-time employee and confidante the opportunity to backstab him. During this turmoil, Hema, a
young widow, enters Kannan’sife. She is determined to have a relationship with Kannan, even if it
means sharing him with her friend Kausalai and giving Kannan money to bail him out of his dire
financial situation. A pregnant Kausalai is furious and distraught when she finds the truth about
Hema’s intentions.

While Kannan is in the middle of negotiations to find a solution to the weavers’ union strike, he
returns homeate one night and realizes his wife and daughter are missing!