THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, May 24: Renowned singer Padma Shri Kavita Krishnamurthi and esteemed violinist and composer Dr L. Subramaniam launched ‘Natok’ recently.
The film Natok is directed by Shubhanshi Chakraborty, Camera and Editing have been done by Partha Bhattacharjee. The film was produced and written by Shubhanshi’s father Shubhasish Chakraborty.
Launching the film, they praised it for its significant and inspiring subject matter. They believe that the film will encourage and honour artists connected to traditional arts.
The film is based on the life struggles of Chhau dancers, featuring Chhau artists from Pandadih village.
Shubhanshi showcases life of tribal dancers
Shubhanshi is a 16-year-old junior-year humanities student who has grown up in a family that believes in individual social responsibility. She spent a lot of time during her childhood in a tribal village adopted by her father, which made her fascinated by their festivals, rituals and their ‘happy gesture’. In this film, she attempts to showcase the life of tribal dancers and the nuances of their lives.
She has done a film orientation course from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). She believes that films are actual change enablers. Shubhanshi is inspired by her father Shubhasish Chakraborty who serves as a senior officer in a global organization and is a social scientist.
Shubhasish is a TEDx speaker
Shubhasish is an expert on tribal affairs, a TEDx speaker, poet, and storyteller dedicated to community development. For 12 years, he has donated a substantial portion of his salary to aid and transform underprivileged communities in Jharkhand, India. He has represented India twice at the United Nations headquarters and has made three acclaimed films on tribal life.
Natok takes us into naïve mind of a young boy
Natok, in English, means ‘drama or a play.’ The film takes us into the naïve mind of a young boy who tries to comprehend the dichotomy of multiple roles a human plays in life. He is trying to encompass the authenticity of the contrasting roles we stage every day.
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His father is a Chhau dancer. Chhau is a folk dance form which is prevalent in the rural areas of Jharkhand, Bengal and Odisha in India since the 18th century. This form of dance portrays stories associated with battles and Indian mythology. His father plays the role of a protagonist who kills the deadly demons. His father is his hero – the mighty, the powerful and the saviour- his highest inspiration, he tries to imitate his father. One day he visits his father at a roadside tea stall, where he works for his livelihood. He sees him being yelled at by the owner. This completely messes with his head, confusing his father’s identity. And then the film unfolds towards the end.
‘Natok’ is an attempt to depict the tribulations of these people who we have so closely seen. they practise, they worship and they live in their art forms. These art forms are like whispers of reassurance to them during turbulence, beyond their comprehension. These art forms are the core of their existence, a very big part of their lives yet it is too little, too little to earn from, too little to survive on and with every tick it passes away, intertwines with the whistling winds and fades into nothingness
‘Natok’ is receiving praise worldwide
The father-daughter duo’s film ‘Natok’ is receiving praise worldwide. It has won several prestigious international film festivals, including the Busan New Wave Short Film Festival, Indo-French International Film Festival, Hollywood Gold Awards, Black Swan International Film Festival, Night of Reels, Cult Critic Movie Awards, Druk International Film Festival, Kolkata International Cult Film Festival, and Goa Film Festival. ‘Natok’ has been selected for 18 international film festivals and has won awards at 10 of them.
The highly acclaimed film “Natok” has been uploaded to audiences worldwide on the YouTube channel: [The Serene Indians](https://www.youtube.com/@THESERENEINDIANS).
