Tamil Nadu's Porunai Museum Draws Massive Crowds with Immersive Films
Over the past three weeks, two special pre-Pongal releases have captivated audiences at the Porunai museum in Tirunelveli. Each film presents a distinct story from Tamil Nadu's rich past. Together, they have attracted more than one lakh visitors from diverse age groups.
Two Captivating Films Showcase Tamil Heritage
The first film stars the Tamirabarani river. It traces the river's journey from the Podhigai hills in the Western Ghats down to the plains. This immersive experience offers a stunning 180-degree view. Viewers see lush forests, wildlife like elephants and lion-tailed macaques, and cascading waters. At moments, the film makes you feel the spray of water from cliffs on your face.
The second film provides a virtual boat ride experience. It takes you from the sea to the ancient port of Korkai. Here, you witness Greeks, Romans, and local traders exchanging wines and gold for pearls. The film shows how goods arrived on these shores. It also displays the ancient art of pearl fishing. Traditional divers descend into the Gulf of Mannar with stone weights. They gather oysters in waist bags.
Archaeological Commissioner Reveals Expansion Plans
Archaeological Commissioner T Udhayachandran states these films are just a sample of future offerings. Tamil Nadu will soon establish more than five new museums. Each museum will reside in a different region with a unique theme.
Themes will include maritime trade, bead-making technology, and iron smelting. Others will focus on hero stones, the evolution of Tamil script and epigraphy, prehistoric tools, and irrigation technology. Land reforms and the overseas naval victories of the Cholas will also feature prominently.
"We will display artefacts found during excavations," says Udhayachandran. "The immersive technological components we hope will attract the younger crowd."
Interactive Experiences and Traditional Games
Visitors can also learn how stone and iron tools were made. The technology museum at Erode will include a workshop. Here, visitors can purchase stone beads, pottery, and other ornaments.
The museums will feature interactive videos. These simulations will show the creation of stone flakes, hammer stones, spearheads, and swords. This hands-on approach helps children experience early technologies directly.
Visitors can also play traditional games like pandiyattam. Culture museums at Mamallapuram and Tiruvannamalai will highlight the antiquity and uniqueness of Tamil culture.
"Mamallapuram will host a modern world-class museum," explains Udhayachandran. "It will feature highlights from all regions. The museums will also serve food from their respective regions."
New Museums Focus on Social and Maritime History
A museum tracing social transformation through hero stones will open at Dharmapuri. Another museum at Poondi will likely receive upgrades. It will showcase prehistoric tools and demonstrations of their manufacturing processes.
Professor K Rajan serves as the academic and research adviser for the Tamil Nadu department of archaeology. He shares details about the Navaai museum in Alagankulam.
"It will showcase ancient maritime trade routes, export-oriented production centres, trade guilds, ships, and navigation technologies," says Rajan. "It will also display empires that had trade links with ancient Tamil Nadu. We hope the new museums will inspire youngsters to learn about the evolution of industry, technology, and language in Tamil Nadu."
Four Major Museums in Development
Naavai Museum
- Location: Alagankulam in Ramanathapuram
- Focus: Tamil Nadu's maritime heritage with links to ports in Southeast Asia, the West, and Sri Lanka.
- Galleries: Traditional navigation methods, boat building techniques, trade guilds, maritime trade routes and goods, evidence of trade found abroad.
- Budget: Rs 35 crore
- Status: Land acquired; work to begin soon
Chola Museum
- Location: Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur
- Galleries: How the Cholas built an empire through irrigation technologies and land reforms. Their military expeditions across India and naval expeditions to Southeast Asian countries. Their contributions to arts and culture in the medieval period.
- Budget: Rs 22 crore
- Status: Work in progress
Noyyal Museum
- Location: Perundurai in Erode
- Focus: History of science and technology with exhibits on textile technology, copper smelting, iron smelting, steel making, shell, and gemstones.
- Highlights: How these industries generated wealth and their interactions with far-off lands like Afghanistan and Gujarat to acquire semi-precious stones for bead making and steel exports.
- Budget: Rs 35 crore
- Status: Land acquired
Modern Tamil Culture Museum
- Location: Mamallapuram
- Focus: Cultural history of Tamil Nadu. A similar museum may be set up in Tiruvannamalai.
- Budget: Rs 75 crore
- Status: Land identified
