‘Onavillu: The Divine Bow’ is a documentary directed by Anand Banaras and Sarath Chandra Mohan that explores the cultural significance of the Onavillu, an ancient artifact associated with Lord Padmanabhaswamy.
The directors explained that the documentary, initially conceived as a small project, aims to highlight the cultural richness surrounding the Onavillu. They expressed their excitement about the project, which features music by Belgian composer Stephen Orlando and narrations by actors Mammootty and Unni Mukundan.
The Onavillu is a bow-shaped instrument presented to Lord Padmanabha on the occasion of Onam. It is traditionally painted with depictions of Lord Vishnu’s Anantha Sayanam (reclining pose) and avatars such as Dasavatharam, Shri Rama Pattabhishekam, and Shri Krishna Leela.
The documentary will be available for free streaming exclusively on JioCinema starting March 8. The process of making an Onavillu is a tradition reserved for specific families, and these instruments are often purchased to be kept at home or gifted to others during the Onam season.