Photographer : Chida Bora
Editing : Diganta Bora
Sound : Debajit Gayan
Music : Sourav Mahanta
Production : 92X26 Films, IGNCA
Contact :
Indira Gandhi
National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA)
Anurag Punetha
tel : +91 11 23446431
[email protected]
Year : 2022
Screening : 2023
DCP, Color, 55 mn, OV assamese ENGSUB
French electronic subitles
International premiere
The many Satras (Vaishnavaites monasteries) of Majuli, the largest populated river island in the world, are not only highly important religious places but also constitute the very heart of Satriya culture, created by the saint-scholar, poet, playwright, social reformer and a cul- tural icon of the 15th century, Srimanta Sankardev. A key element of Satriya culture is composed of the masks worn by the artists during the Bhaona, a dance show mainly based on Hindu mythology. These masks - or “Mukha” as we call them in Assamese - represent a complex art form, and the craftsmen create them in a unique and totally organic way using biodegradable materials. This film creatively documents the art of Majuli masks, focusing on the only two families that keep the practice alive in Natun Chamaguri Satra, including multi-awarded mask maker Dr. Hem Chandra Goswami.
