Padmini | One of Kerala’s Few Women Watch Mechanics | documentary | afterImages

Padmini TK is a watch mechanic from Kozhikode (Calicut), Kerala. One of the very few women in the state specialising in mechanical watch repair, she has spent over three decades working at Hindustan Times, a small watch shop in SM street, Calicut.

Padmini entered the profession after her marriage and after having her son. She completed her ITI and began learning the trade.

At Hindustan Times, Padmini found her mentor and colleague in Rajettan, with whom she has worked for the last 35 years. Even today, they consult each other on repairs, discuss difficult cases, and rely on each other’s judgement — a quiet partnership built on skill and respect rather than hierarchy.

In this film, Padmini talks about the watch that took her the longest to repair, the kind of patience mechanical watches demand, and the specific skills required to keep them running. She also reflects on how the watch repair trade is slowly declining, as disposable products replace repairable ones and fewer young people enter the profession.

Beyond the craft, Padmini speaks about her family’s support, the importance of resilience, and how a problem-solving mindset has shaped not just her work, but the way she approaches life itself.

This is a film about time, not just what we measure, but what we choose to stay with.

About the Channel & Production

After Images is a channel dedicated to finding real, unhurried stories. We plan to travel across India to document people, local crafts, traditions, and processes, seeking fragments of life that reveal something deeper about the human experience.

Production Team:

Shot & edited by: Bibin Joseph
Sound Recording: Hari Prasad
Sound Mixing: Sandeep Kurissery
Subtitles: Haripriya
Thumbnail Design: Sujith Abraham
Producer & Script Direction: Abhina S

Timestamps

00:24 — Opening & introduction
01:12 — Padmini’s journey into watch repair
02:22 — Hindustan Times & meeting Raju
02:52 — How few women are in this craft
04:00 — Skills, patience, and precision
05:54 — The most difficult watch she repaired
08:22 — Family support & problem-solving mindset
09:13 — Decline of the watch repair trade

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