India, January 21, 2026: Indicus Paints has launched a powerful new documentary, “Drishti Bommai: Reviving the Tradition,” through its cultural initiative Indicus Crossections. The film was accorded a special screening during the Design Through Our Lens panel at Madras Art Weekend 2025, the festival’s fourth edition, underscoring Indicus’ leadership in bridging heritage and contemporary design.
The documentary captures the story of the Drishti Bommai—an ancient craft symbolizing faith, protection, and community— bringing attention to the urgent need to safeguard generational skills that are increasingly endangered due to urbanisation, shifting belief systems, and the absence of sustainable artisan livelihoods. Traditionally placed at thresholds, rooftops, and communal spaces across South India, the documentary is a call to action—a reminder that every fading craft holds a mirror to the collective soul of a people. It has long served as a guardian figure, believed to ward off malevolent forces while reinforcing collective faith and shared cultural memory. By exploring this rich cultural context, the film demonstrates how such crafts remain relevant today, connecting heritage with contemporary design practices.
Through this initiative, Indicus reaffirms its commitment to artisanship and cultural heritage with dignity and purpose. “Drishti Bommai: Reviving the Tradition” is the first film from Indicus Crossections, marking the beginning of a series dedicated to spotlighting crafts and practices that merit renewed attention. Rather than presenting the craft as a relic of the past, the documentary presents the Drishti Bommai as a living cultural form—one that continues to evolve while retaining its symbolic power. Crossections serves as a bridge between past and future, reinforcing Indicus’ vision of embedding heritage into modern narratives.
Commenting on the film, Gokul Basker, Brand Founder, Indicus & Partner, VNC Group, said: “The Drishti Bommai is more than a cultural artefact—it is a living testament to centuries of faith and craftsmanship. This film is not just documentation—it is intervention. By tracing the practice and the craft that must not be lost, we hope to ensure that future generations continue to encounter that unforgettable, wide-eyed gaze watching over them.”
