Remembering Mattancherry’s Pardeshi Matriarch

The documentary ‘Sarah, Thaha and Thoufeek’ will be screened for the public soon

Were she with us, on September 4 Sarah Cohen would have turned 100. On the same day, a documentary, 10 years in the making and shown to a select audience in Mattancherry, revealed how the late Jewish matriarch remains such a palpable presence in Kochi’s ancient Jew Town.

Thaha Ibrahim (L) & Thoufeek Zachariah with Sarah Cohen. In the documentary, director Sarath Kottikkal explores Sarah’s daily life, especially her interactions with Thaha and Thoufeek

Sarath Kottikkal started filming the documentary titled ‘Sarah, Thaha and Thoufeek’ sometime in late 2013 though it had been in the works at least three years earlier.

“My original concept spun around the story of Jews in Kerala, but soon it was changed into the tale of Sarah Cohen. Thaha Ibrahim, a tailor who also sold postcards and fancy items to tourists visiting Mattancherry, later became like a son to Sarah. Thoufeek Zachariah is a cook who went on to learn Hebrew calligraphy which become a reason for developing a solid bond with Sarah Cohen,” Sarath says.

“Many people have already told the story of a Jew, a Muslim and a Christian (Selin, a maid of Sarah Cohen) living under a single roof. What I tried was to find out was Sarah Cohen as an individual through her conversation and interactions with Thaha and Thoufeek,” says Sarath. The story progresses through everyday happenings in the life of Sarah.

“I never interviewed her for my documentary. I just captured the visuals and voices of her daily life, especially the interactions with Thaha and Thoufeek,” Sarath explains.

It took almost eight years for him to complete the documentary and one of the reasons was that he refused to go by a predetermined script. Sarah once said that one of her dreams was to witness the wedding of Thoufeek. And she did. The documentary captures the moment one day at the end of 2017. Sarah Cohen and Thoufeek are engaged in a conversation.

“Don’t you need a companion in your life?” Sarah asks Thoufeek.

“Yeah, I need one,” Thoufeek replied. “There are a lot of girls in your area, na?” she asked.

“Yes. Still, there is the issue of liking someone before taking the plunge,” he replied. “Anyway, it may happen soon,” he added.

“Soon? Will it be next month?” Sarah asked. “Not next month. But, without much delay,” he said.
Sarah Cohen feels a little worried. Recognising her worry, Thoufeek said, “Don’t worry aunty. I am sure you will attend my wedding. ”

Through such small things, intimate things, the documentary conveys Sarah’s profound humanity and, not least, her innate curiosity and zest for life. At one point, she is seen pressing Thaha to be taken to a mall. “One day, Thaha told me that he took Saranti (aunt Sarah) to
Lulu Mall. Then she was around 95 and I was awestruck. I don’t think most of us can think of taking our grandparents or parents of 80 plus to a mall,” says Sarath.

In September 2019, Sarath went to Mumbai to meet one of his acquaintances in connection with some technical aspects of the documentary. A day before he was to return home, Thaha rang up and asked to him to contact Yaakov Finkelstein, the consul general of Israel in Mumbai. Thaha gave the cell number of Finkelstein to Sarath. Sarath was sceptical – how would an ordinary man from Mattancherry be seen by Israel’s consul general. Finkelstein was a relative of Cohen and had been to Mattancherry many times.

“Anyway, I just called him up and he asked me to meet him at the Israeli embassy in Mumbai. As I walked in, the woman at the reception looked up and I told her I wanted to meet Finkelstein. Giving me a distasteful look, she called him up. He asked me to wait in the lobby. A few minutes later, Finkelstein arrived, flanked security personnel. Our conversation lasted for more than two hours and he asked me to submit an application to the Indian embassy in Israel requesting that I would be thankful if I get an opportunity to conduct the premier of the documentary in Israel. I did as he said,” Sarath recalls.

Many experienced hands and celebrated technicians cooperated with the project. “The narration was done by Anjali Menon. In fact, I wanted to rope in Mammootty for the purpose. But it didn’t work due to certain reasons. Then, I spoke to director Anjali Menon and she agreed. Her voice has given the entire documentary a different dimension. Background score, photography, editing etc were done by established professionals,” Sarath explains.

“They all pledged their wholehearted support to me. In fact, some of them didn’t took remuneration for the project,” says Sarath.

By February 2020, everything was ready and Sarath flew to Israel. “Air India was the co-sponsor of the event in Israel. So, I was offered a free air ticket to and fro to Israel. The documentary was premiered in Tel Aviv in the presence of VIPs, including Indian ambassador to Israel,” Sarath recalls. Then the pandemic came and everything was put on hold. In the fourth week of this September, Kerala’s public will finally get to see ‘Sarah, Thaha and Thoufeek’.