FULL DOCUMENTARY (60 min) | ‘Durga’- Mrinmoyee theke Chinmoyee
(DURGA-HER JOURNEY FROM CLAY TO SUPREME CONCIOUSNESS
LANGUAGE: BANGLA WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
About the film & what inspired me to make this film
‘Durga’ - Mrinmoyee theke Chinmoyee explores the journey of Goddess Durga, from lumps of clay to an embodiment of supreme consciousness. Artisans from Bengal craft idols of the Mother Goddess with utmost care, devotion, dedication and love. The final works of art are given a warm, and sentimental, send-off to ‘pandals’. Not unlike how a father brings up his daughters to see her off to her in-laws’ home after marriage. The send-off is a unique event. Tinged with nostalgia for the artisans while at the other end of the mother’s journey, young and old alike eagerly await their idol’s arrival, the annual homecoming.
On the very last day, the idols are immersed in rivers or water bodies, and another year long wait for the goddess’s return begins. In all the festivities, the artisans, who bear much hardship in the profoundly intricate and scientific processes of idol making, remain unsung heroes - men and few women who watch their months of dedication return to clay in a matter days.
The art of making ‘pratimas’ or idols has fascinated me since childhood. My father, who was a fine-arts graduate himself, would take me to workshops of these indigenous artisans and I observed, fascinated, their tireless efforts in raising larger-than-life deities and demons from clay and straw. These artisans contribute so much to our joy of Puja by giving us exquisite ‘pratimas’.
I wanted to show the world how back-breaking their work is. And how skilful and scientific, the art of idol-making. The artistes’ sense of commitment and extreme sense of responsibility is evident as they work a strict regimen to a deadline. When it comes to making a Durga Pratima, there is no extending the deadline.
Durga- Mrinmoyee theke Chinmoyee (from clay to supreme consciousness), this gigantic enterprise of idol-making follows a centuries-old protocol, fine-tuned to the times and demands of the day and changing clients.
Since time immemorial, the invocation of Goddess Durga is believed to bring prosperity and prudence. Sacred Hindu texts say Durga is the epitome of power and grace. And today, the festival surrounding her worship is an event, recognised all over the world.
Durga Puja brings fun, frolic, entertainment... Tradition, heritage, art, mythology, history, everything tied together by the threads of rituals.
‘Puja’ is packed with emotions, sentiments and memories. ‘Puja’ has so many colours. Every Bengali grows up seeing ‘Durga Puja’ since childhood. It is an occasion when we connect to our roots. And this feeling is even more overpowering for ‘probasi’ (non-resident) Bengalis across the world. I have tried to showcase this fascinating festival along with its beliefs and rituals, in a single timeline.
Since birth, I have seen ‘Durga Puja’ in Delhi. After growing up, when I had the chance to see ‘Pujo’ in Kolkata, I discovered many new colours. I visited some historical houses also to record their rich traditions. I have been working on the project single-handed for the past three years both in Delhi and Kolkata. I have attempted to capture most of the colours of this significant event.
My journey of making
I am a fine-arts graduate from College of Fine Arts, New Delhi. After college, I have been associated in design/graphics section of The Times of India Group for the past 30 years. I had no experience of film making at all.
I made this film of my passion for Durga Puja and love/respect for the artisans and their work. To begin with, I spent long hours dredging the Net, researching on 'DURGA', the Puja as an event. I then set out to shoot the entire film with a single DSLR camera under natural or available light conditions. This film is entirely my work: single-handed and single-minded project. My journey of shooting the footage of idol-making ultimately fleshed out into an extensive documentary feature on 'DURGA' and the mega event of 'PUJA'.
I wrote the initial script, planned songs/background music subsequently recorded in qualified studios. Many established professionals of music & the film world joined me in this venture including the eminent Acharya Ajay Bhattacharya, Arijit Kundu & Biplab Dasgupta (script writers), Abhisek Lahiri (sarod player), Sh Debashish Bose (noted MC and voice artiste), Debasish Haldar (esraj/sarangi player), Biswajeet Dasgupta, Poulami Nath & Bimal Dey (vocalists) among a host of others.
I am extremely thankful to them who are reputed names of field of art, culture and films. I also thank friends for extending all possible support and guidance to me.
I will soon be making an English version of this film for a wider outreach.
HAPPY VIEWING
27 авг 2024
