Rewinding a few centuries to the burgeoning slave trade of the Indian Ocean, The Siddis are descendants of Southeast Africa who were brought to India by slave traders in the 16th century. Over the years, those who managed to escape could stitch their displaced communities together in different parts of India. Today, you may find about 50,000 Siddis spread across the Indian Subcontinent and over one-third of them have made the Indian state of Karnataka their home.

The scars of forced uprooting and discrimination have led many to opt for a solitary lifestyle to preserve their culture and identity. Isolated from urban infrastructure, the Siddi community grapples with poverty and limited access to education, pushing young adults into low-paying, menial jobs. However, their athletic prowess has caught the eye of several sports organisations and the Indian government, who saw their genetic profile as ideal for running. Bridges of Sports - a Bengaluru-based NGO, identified young Siddi children with potential and fostered them with training, mentorship, and education to secure their future as budding athletes and coaches of the country.

The film ‘Minchu’ produced by LastBench Studio, documents the lives of present day Siddis living in Karnataka, highlighting their genetic prowess in sports and the efforts of Bridges of Sports in nurturing a sports ecosystem for their community.The scars of forced uprooting and discrimination have led many to opt for a solitary lifestyle to preserve their culture and identity. Isolated from urban infrastructure, the Siddi community grapples with poverty and limited access to education, pushing young adults into low-paying, menial jobs. However, their athletic prowess has caught the eye of several sports organisations and the Indian government, who saw their genetic profile as ideal for running. Bridges of Sports - a Bengaluru-based NGO, identified young Siddi children with potential and fostered them with training, mentorship, and education to secure their future as budding athletes and coaches of the country.

The film ‘Minchu’ produced by LastBench Studio, documents the lives of present day Siddis living in Karnataka, highlighting their genetic prowess in sports and the efforts of Bridges of Sports in nurturing a sports ecosystem for their community.