Mask Art of Majuli: A Journey Through the Satriya Mask-Making Culture
The film “Mask Art of Majuli” has been selected to compete in two major film festivals. The 55-minute documentary directed by Utpal Borpujari and produced by the North East Regional Centre of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) will have its international premiere at the 29th Festival International des Cinémas d’Asie (FICA) in France and will also compete in the 11th Chennai International Documentary and Short Film Festival. This is the only Indian film selected among the eight documentaries in competition at FICA, which will be held from February 28 to March 7 in Vesoul city in France.
The film showcases the Satriya mask-making culture of the famous river island of Assam, focusing on the efforts of two families who are preserving the practice. The masks, called “Mukha” in Assamese, were introduced by the famous 15th century Vaishnavaite saint and cultural icon Srimanta Sankardev as a key component in the performance of “Bhaona”, a dance drama depicting Hindu mythology. These masks are a form of intricate art, created in an organic and biodegradable manner.
The film crew includes Bhaskar Jyoti Das (associate director), Chida Bora (cinematographer), Diganta Bora (editor), Sourav Mahanta (background music), Debajit Gayan (sound design, editing and mixing), and Manjit Nath (production sound).
The film has already been screened at the 6th Thrissur International Folklore Film Festival in Kerala and will now compete in two more major festivals, offering a unique and creative look at the mask-making culture of Majuli.
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