Grandma is Indian martial arts guru

(23 Oct 2011)
++NB: WRONG SLATE ON TAPE AT START OF STORY++
AP TELEVISION
Vadakara, Kozhikode District, Kerala, India - June 27, 2011
1. Wide of Meenakshi Raghavan practising swordfight with her student
2. Wide of weapons kept at the place of worship
3. Close of shields and swords
4. Close of oil lamp
5. Wide of sign reading: 'Kadathanad Kalari Sangham'
6. SOUNDBITE (Malayalam) Meenakshi Raghavan, Kalaripayattu martial arts expert:
"I started training at the age of seven years. Nearly four years after this school was opened by Raghavan master, I joined along with a lot of young children from the village. I proved myself as a versatile performer and continued without a break. Master would take me along for his exhibition performances. Because of our enthusiasm and hard work, he had me and his younger sister well trained."
7. Wide of temple
8. Various of Meenakshi going round temple
9. Mid of Meenakshi praying with folded hands
10. Mid of framed photograph of Meenakshi's husband, Raghavan
11. Close of Meenakshi in prayer
12. Various of family members watching Meenakshi practice
13. Various of Meenakshi practising
14. SOUNDBITE (Malayalam) R Sajeev Kumar, son of Meenakshi Raghavan:
"I feel really proud. My mother has been active as a trained fighter even before my birth. In those days, my father's younger sister used to partner her in fights. She has fought in many arenas and places. I have seen them fight in my younger days."
15. Various of Meenakshi practising swordfight on the beach
16. SOUNDBITE (Malayalam) Meenakshi Raghavan, Kalaripayattu martial arts expert:
"How long I will continue I do not know. But I will go on as long as my health permits. I have completed 67 years and am running on 68."
17. Various of weapons used in the martial art
18. Wide of students seeking Meenakshi's blessings
19. Various of students practising with daggers
20. Mid of onlookers
21. Wide of girls practising Kalari moves in the temple courtyard
22. Low angle shot of girls practising
23. Various of students practising with weapon
24. SOUNDBITE (Malayalam) K V Sajil Kumar, martial arts student:
"It is her age that makes her stand apart. No woman her age is practising Kalaripayattu. In fact, it would not be possible. She is able to do this because she started training at a young age."
25. Wide of Meenakshi training young boys
26. Mid of Meenakshi giving instructions
27. Various of students practising
28. Wide of training
29. Various of students practising swordfight on beach
30. Wide of Meenakshi moving toward the students
31. Wide of onlookers
32. Wide of Meenakshi collecting weapons from the students and walking back
33. Wide of Kalari students standing on the beach
34. Wide of Meenakshi looking at the sea
35. Mid of Meenakshi
36. Various of Meenakshi walking on the beach
LEAD IN:
The oldest surviving martial arts form in the world is alive and well in the south of India.
And the leading light in this energetic fighting form is a 68-year-old woman.
STORYLINE:
It's fast and furious, stylish and scary - and it could also be lethal.
This ancient Indian martial arts form demands speed, agility and lots of stamina.
The surprise is that the teacher here is a 68-year-old woman, Meenakshi Raghavan.
She is an expert in Kalaripayattu, the traditional martial arts of Kerala, in the far south west of India.
She can match steps with students half her age.
Kalaripayattu is derived from the words 'Kalari' which means 'place', or 'battlefield', and 'payattu' which means to 'exercise in arms' or 'practice'.
Even her granddaughter is following suit.

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