Kadha means story. 

And that’s what Kadha is all about. It’s the untold story of women and men who immigrated from Kerala, India to the US in the 1960s and 70s. Young, sari-clad nurses came in droves, answering the call of America’s nursing shortage. They came with nothing. They knew no one. But in time, they established themselves and pioneered a path for their people and their posterity. Their story has never been told.

Until now.

With your support, the legacy of Malayalee immigrants who sacrificially and courageously blazed a trail for generations to come will not be lost, but honored and celebrated. 

Kadha aims to do for Kerala immigrants what New York Times Bestseller and Oprah Book Club’s The Covenant of Water  by Dr. Abraham Verghese has done for Kerala; that is, bring attention and acclaim to this incredible place and its incredible people. 

With your help, the world will get to hear our Kadha. 

Help Us Begin Phase 2: Production

With the help of Emmy nominated Director, Raelyn Munneke, we completed Phase 1 with the creation of the Kadha trailer. It’s a sample of the larger project, and the feedback we’ve received has convinced of one thing: Keep going!

So, now, we’re ready to begin Phase 2: Production.

Our initial goal for this phase is $90,000. This will enable filming and production of the full-length Kadha documentary. With your help, we will record stories of pioneer Malayalee immigrants from around the country. Filming is scheduled to begin in September 2024.

Through the power of film, Kadha aims to tell the unique story of Kerala immigrants while celebrating the universal human experience of sacrifice, bravery, and courage that comes when immigrants create a new life in a new land.

Through intimate interviews and heartfelt narratives, this full-length documentary will capture the waning voices of first generation Malayalees and their struggles with assimilation, discrimination, and their bittersweet longing for home, while celebrating the rich heritage and resilience that defined these soft-spoken heroes. 

Shainu Thomas: Executive Producer

“If we don’t tell their story, future generations will never know the sacrifices that were made on their behalf. I owe it to these precious pioneers to honor their legacy.” 

Shainu immigrated to the U.S in the early 90’s with her family as a result of being sponsored by her aunt. Her aunt is one among the hundreds of nurses who came to the U.S. in the 1970’s. Shainu is passionate about making the story of this generation known, lest their sacrifices and impact fade away without any recognition. Her vision for capturing these stories and desire to share them has been a driving factor that has brought this project to the screen.

Raelyn Munneke: Director 

“Stories inspire culture. People inspire stories. Film is a story’s instrument.” 

As a documentarian for 18 years, Raelyn has captured stories of sports stars for ESPN, executives for Walmart, earned a regional Emmy nomination for her feature documentary, and traveled the world. But what truly drew her into story were the sideline members, the associates supporting a family and the many other stories each person in this world holds. When someone begins to believe their story matters, that’s the magic Raelyn keeps chasing through film.

3 Ways You Can Help

1. Donate: Make a contribution and grab some of our amazing perks as you do!

2. Collaborate: Know someone whose story should be a part of Kadha? Let’s Connect!
   

3. Communicate: Help us get the word out. Share this campaign today!