Reported By Insha Zarine Sayeed and Kanhu Charan Gouda
Bhubaneswar, July 5: Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan in collaboration with the Infosys Foundation organized the almost extinct folk dance cultural festival ‘Ravana Chhaya-Shadow Puppet play of Odisha’. This ancient folk art was performed by the experts of Shriram Institute of Shadow Theatre under the expertise and guidance of Dr. Gouranga Charan Dash, Dr. Sabitri Dash and Shri. Prahallad Behera.
As a continuation to the previous ‘Bharat Leela’ event, Ex-Secretary of Odisha Sangeet Natak Academy and Chakadola Samman winner Shri Manmath Kumar Satpathy came up with another form of Odisha ancient culture portraying to a large mass of audience, Ravana Chhaya. As informed to ReportOdisha, “People and its government have extended support towards Odyssey Dances but it seems as if they have forgotten that their own state is rich in folk art as well.”
Though the state is known for its Culture and values but in the recent years the mark of it has somewhere been disappeared. Due to the fast moving life people have left behind the values and their culture far off. People have forgotten what their state stands for. Therefore to revive the almost dying folk art and its eminent dance forms Infosys ties up with Bhavans and Satpathy ji chooses to take this initiative of showcasing the art through dancers and artists from towns and villages with a result it proves to be beneficial for the artists as well as they are provided with a scope to perform in front of personalities thus making their standing somewhat nationally.
It says, Practice makes a man perfect. The same applies here as well. He aims to take this initiative at the national level and thus by organizing events at small scale is just the beginning. Gradually over the time each folk art will be revived in the hearts and minds of all after all it’s just the fourth attempt.
Manmath Satpathy added saying, “Odisha is a house of around 100 folk dance forms which is still a secret to many Odias, which he tends to bring out in front of the people. The oldest Folk Dance form, Lankamodi Yatra (musk theatre) is considered as one of the rare art form where the artists wear a wooden mask weighing 90kgs which requires recognition is one of my aims”.
Hence, it has been decided by the authorities that every first and third Monday of every month will be dedicated to Odisha Folk.
Today it portrayed one of the segments of Ramayana through this awesome puppet show.
The shadow (chhaya) theatre (nataka) of Odisha is known as “Ravana Chhaya”. This art form is known as “Chamdya Chaya Bahulya” in Marathi, “Tolu Bommalata” in Telegu, “Tholu Bommalattam” in Tamil, “Togalu Gombeatta” in Kannada, “Tol Pavakoothu” in Malayalam and “Chhaya Putul Nacha” in Bengali. The name “Ravana Chhaya” seems a bit unusual in this context. The puppets of Ravana Chhaya are made of single piece of untanned deer and cow hide and linear cut. The music is the curious blending of folk, classical and modern style. Songs are song with the help of traditional and musical instruments like tambourine, cymbals, daskathi and mridangam and puppets are manipulated through a single prop attached to the lower parts of their body.
Prof Gouranga dash is presently the Head of the Department of Odia in his alma mater, Ravenshaw College, Cuttack. He obtained his Ph.D from Utkal University on Puppet Play. His scholarly interests include wide-ranging field of studies like Creative writing, Critical or Cultural studies. He is a ‘Shadow Theatre’ aficionado and recognized as a puppet artist of international level.
He says, “The Ravana Chhaya presents the stories of Lord Rama and follows the text of ‘Vichitra Ramayana’ by Vishwanath Khuntia a medieval Odia Poet. While the players of shadow puppet borrow their themes from medieval poets and playwrights, I write my own script on contemporary social issues. I believe in the idea that art can challenge many of our society’s deepest assumptions and bring positive changes. I have done various shows in different parts of the country and even internationally as well where it has been well-appreciated.”
Shadow Puppetry is the puppet theatre form where puppets throw coloured shadows on the screen. Professor dash is the founder of Sriram Chhaya Natak and Gabeshana Parishad. These orgabizations aim to support national and international artists in extending their contribution for advancement of the theory and praxis of folk arts. He established Anand Ashram with the hope to set up a sanctum for admirers, practitioners and connoisseurs of folk art.
Dr. Sabitri Dash teaches Odia Literature and language in Mahila Mahaidyalaya in the District of Angul. She had her Ph.D degree on “Hasya Rasa in Oriya Literature” under Sambalpur University. A wee-known critic on modern literature, she has associated herself whole-heatedly in the process of modernization of the “Ravana Chhaya”.
Sriram Institute of Shadow Theatre, a cultural organization is the brain child of master-mind artistes, theatre-personalities, researchers and art connoisseurs of Odisha. This comes into existence with the inspiration of Ms Kapila Vastyayan, a doyen of Indian Cultural and Literary studies through Khageswar Pradhan, the Guru of Ravana Chhaya, Gouranga Charan Dash, Sabitri Dash, dedicated couple to art and literature, and, Prahallad Behera an artist and teacher. The institute aims at preserving, modernizing, and facilitating research, bringing up new generations who will nurture the age-old tradition of puppet art in Odisha, especially Ravana Chhaya, the shadow of puppet play.
Yesterdays performances were categorized into two sections, Traditional and Contemporary. The traditional comprised of Sita Chori (Abduction of Sita), Sithaba (Quest for Sita), Krushna Chanura Samara and Mahalaxmi Katha, while the comtemporary consisted of Bapukatha, Srikhetra O Bapu, Visit of the Legend, Jawahar: The Apostle of peace, Vrikshoham (I am Tree), Madahandi Katha, Chandalika and lastly Vande Mataram.
