It was in preparation of making a film portraying the issues encountered by the children in Attappady that THAMPU collected information on children dropping out of school in 90 tribal villages in Attappady. The story of the movie Gaavu was based on the study we conducted and the letters from Mashani, a girl from Paloor who used to regularly write to THAMPU detailing the troubles and hardships she had to endure in the gounder household in Coimbatore where she was working. The word gaavu means sacrifice.We came into contact with many more children like Mashani in various tribal villages.

The 30-minute film captures 3 days in the lives of the girls Valli and Tulasi, who are friends and dropouts from Kottathara school. The film brings into public discussion the circumstances in which children are forced to discontinue schooling and the perils of exploitation, outrages, and bonded labour that prowl them. The film achieved its goal and the government intervened in the issue.