Photographs taken by Patachitra artists.
On one of the days we suggested to go outside of EZCC (Eastern Zonal Cultural Center) where we had our project space, and think of possible locations where we could shoot the film. A group of Patuas took cabs and asked Niels and Arunas to come with them. These photographs were among those taken during that trip and they show locations that later became sets for most of the scenes. It was surprising for us to see so little of the cityscape on them. Was it because Patua were searching for something familiar to them? Kolkata was a place of visits to them, but it was very different to where they lived. In conversations with them they would often highlight the symbolic meaning of certain things they photographed. Like a tree or water. They would also be very precise about the particular elements within shot, for example, a field with a very specific set of trees, a path that resembled one they knew from home and that could not be found in Kolkata. After some time I realized that we were too. I also wanted the camera to be placed in a certain way. For instance while filming the scene in the village Dukhushyam was concerned about his and the other artists position within the frame. For him frame was a theatre stage. I was more interested in the background, thinking of how to capture fragments of the everyday life happening behind the actors.
by Magda
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