Ebby Malai Makkal is a documentary that unfolds in the Nilgiris, a region of striking natural beauty layered with histories of hierarchy and oppression. At its heart are the Paniyas — one of the most marginalized tribal communities of southern India. Once bonded labourers tied to landowners and estates, the Paniyas continue to face systemic discrimination, often seen only through the lens of “workers” or “labourers.”