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Writer's pictureNLR Journal

Preserving Folklore and Traditional Knowledge in Cinema


By Gnanaa Soundar K & Raja Ishwarya B, SASTRA Deemed University; Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu*.

 


Abstract


India’s cultural heritage is woven with vibrant expressions of Traditional Knowledge (TK) and folklore, manifested in rituals, art, music, dance, and indigenous practices. These intangible assets embody the identity, wisdom, and values of diverse indigenous communities. In Indian cinema, filmmakers frequently draw upon traditional folklore and symbols, which enhances storytelling but often raises issues of cultural misrepresentation and exploitation.

The Indian Copyright Act, 1957, however, remains insufficient in providing legal protections for indigenous cultural expressions, leaving them vulnerable to misappropriation and misuse. This article explores the legal challenges that hinder effective safeguarding of TK in cinema, scrutinizes existing international frameworks, and proposes a model for legal reforms tailored to India’s context.


Keywords: Traditional Knowledge (Tk), Folklore Protection, Cultural Misappropriation, Indian Copyright Act, Indigenous Rights, Community-Based Licensing, Moral Rights, Cultural Appropriation, Legal Reform, Sui Generis System.

 

* The authors are final year, BBA. LL.B. (Hons.) students at SASTRA Deemed University; Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.



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Journal Details
Abbreviation: NLR 

ISSN:   2582-8479 (O)

Year of Starting: 2020

Place: New Delhi, India

Accessibility: Open Access

Peer Reviewer: Double Blind

Licensing:

 

​All research articles published in NLR and are fully open access. i.e. immediately freely available to read, download and share. Articles are published under the terms of a Creative Commons license which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium provided the original work is properly cited.

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