synopsis of a work in progress film

Narrative Synopsis

The main objective of the film is to trace out the image- making process which is quite unique with an identity of its own. Pithora painting is a comprehensive understanding of mundane needs and depiction of creation myth. The vicinity of the process is the construction of narrative in a ritualistic manner - a performed art form to thank god or a boon to be granted

Pithora painting is the premise of the film to analytically observe the contemporary life and expression of indigenous genre of image making. The film has three parts to deal extensively with the image-making processes of three different members of the same adivasi community.

Part-1

The priest, Badvo (painter, head of the village) the master craftsman of the village

In this part the traditional process of making pithora been shown along with the rituals and songs which accompany the act. The iconography of the Pithora along with the social placement of the tribe will be depicted. This will be visualized by juxtaposing the myth and painted stories on the wall. At the same time the Badvo is a curious follower of traveling talkies. The film begins with an introduction of arrival of travelling talkies in a mela (village fare) where the Badvo is a curious observer of it. Later the film moves to the preparation of the wall for making Pithora ... Subsequently the life and myth of Pithora making is narrated through the eye of the Badvo .

Part-II

Japani –a story teller on canvas

Thirty two year old Japani is the daughter of Jangadh Singh Shyam- the tribal artist who committed suicide in Japan while working in a private gallery. Japani lives in Bhopal and participates in art campus all over India. She paints on canvas but greatly follows tribal motives and iconography for narration. She is a follower of television programs


Part-III

Ganshyam-in search of virtual dreams

This part deals with the fantasies of Ghanshyam, who is a fifteen year old boy and comes to the capital city Ahemadabad to study image manipulating softwares adobe photoshop, corel draw etc

He is a fan of Bollywood films. His images are mostly influenced by tribal style but there is a presence of Bollywood narration in all his expression.
.

1-Existence of ‘Adivasi’ or Dalit community as an entity - an entry point for the film concept. 2-Folk-form as a categorical imperative within human mind which could be evolved as an art work by any community or group. 3- The relation between environment and material. 4-Indian tradition of artistic activity enhancing mythical (non-linear) time and space. Folk form of practice as a domain for alternate representation/reality


Director’s note

as the time progresses beyond the light and darkness
as the steps lead to the mountain
by listening to the oral folk tale
the weathering mind seek the hero in the colors
are they there still?
does the chromium light change the skin color
are they in search of a dismantled rainbow
my anguish is the realization of a celluloid dream
a ribbon get ridden off
ribbon itself is a rainbow the immense potential of narratives impeded on the painted wall echoes the fantasies and imagination of a community, a community self contented with beliefs and practices. My fantasy of following a rainbow destined me in the brown sunlight spread landscape of stories. once again ears and eyes followed the origin and destination of the words flown from mouths . That was the beginning of a new parable …may be that is the parable I am trying to confirm through three different image makers. There is always three different levels of consumption and depiction of pithora such as traditional, legendary or mythological and contemporary. These three different people philosophically represent the three different levels - the badvo priest and master craftsman, japani the thirty two year old daughter of a tribal artist who committed suicide in Japan where he was commissioned to paint in a private gallery, japon herself is an artist who paints traditional motifs on canvas. The third is a fifteen year old boy who works as a computer trainee in Ahemadabad (the capital city of the state) and expresses his fantasies in photoshop and other image making software

All three of them belong to the same tribe of rathwas.

One line synopsis

The film traces artistic lineages of Adivasis of North Western India through a dialogical narrative mapping their mainstream myths and its representation in paintings.