Under the Open Sky: A Rare Glimpse Into the Nomadic Fakirani Jat of Kutch

September 15, 2025

Under the Open Sky is a rare gem—a documentary film that stands out for its deep honesty and care. Directed by Sonam Sumaria, it offers an authentic look into Kutch, capturing its spirit in a way that deserves special attention.

A Film That Shows the Real Kutch

This film immerses viewers in the daily lives of the Maldari people, focusing on a Fakirani Jat family. It illustrates their resilience in preserving cultural traditions amid rapid change and highlights Kutch's striking landscape as more than a backdrop—it's integral to their story.

Fakirani Jat Embroidery: A Tradition That Hasn't Changed

The documentary’s power lies in bringing the seldom-seen Fakirani Jat group to the forefront. Sonam presents their challenges and strengths with rare openness, making their story genuinely moving.

The beautiful tribal embroidery worn by the women in this documentary are the same type as those used my Madame Hall designs. The Jat ladies embroiderer them on multiple layers of cloth. The tension in the thread and dense foundation gives the mirror work a unique, embedded appearance and a distinctive texture.

This traditional embroidery style is exclusively used on women's dress bodices and has remained unchanged. These embroideries are not made for the commercial market. The truth is that the people of this community are superstitious about selling their clothes. You can't buy a whole traditional Jat dress since the embroidery is always taken off before the clothing changes hands.

This makes their work really traditional and free from outside influences, which is rare these days.

A Treat for Textile and Movie Lovers as well as environmentalists, Under the Open Sky has been selected to screen at the Ecocine International Environmental and Human Rights Film Festival in Brazil. The festival will be held alongside COP30, one of the world’s most important environmental events.

Anyone fascinated by Indian tribal textiles, resilient ways of life, or authentic storytelling will find Under the Open Sky especially rewarding.

The documentary is thought-provoking and takes you deep into Kutch, away from touristy areas. There will be special screenings across the UK over the next few weeks, and I've heard that one will be held in Bhuj soon as well!