A Bird In Passage

'A Bird In Passage' is a short documentary film based on life and the art of Shri Puran Bhat, a traditional puppeteer from India. Originally from Rajasthan, his group of puppeteer families settled in Delhi almost fifty years ago. They lived in the Kathputli Colony at Delhi, an artist community. Which has been collapsed due to government policies. Puran Bhat was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2003, given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama but now he doesn’t have a roof and this artist community is struggling to save their existence.

  • Manish Sachdeva
    Director
  • Manish Sachdeva
    Producer
  • Puran Bhat
    Key Cast
    "Puran Bhat"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 45 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 15, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    Hindi
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Manish Sachdeva

Manish Sachdeva is a Delhi based puppeteer and a film-maker.

Manish is a trained Video Puppeteer and learned the technique and craft of MUPPETRY/PUPPETRY (VIDEO PUPPETRY) from the American master Puppeteer - MARTIN P. ROBINSON from Sesame Street, New York. He also got trained under famous international puppeteers - Noel McNeal (Bear in The Big Blue House) and Nyanga (Takalani Sesame, South Africa). He plays the characters and voice of Boombah, Khadoosa, Cookie Monster, Zeerak, Tarram the frog and array of many other characters for famous Television series Sesame Street India also known as Galli Galli Sim Sim on Cartoon Network Channel, Pogo Channel and Doordarshan.

Manish created various puppetry videos, short documentaries and corporate films.

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Director Statement

I was introduced to puppetry in 2005, when I became part of Sesame Street, I fell in love with the art form of puppetry and realised how an object, a piece of cloth or a doll become a real character for the audiences and how they relate to these characters..both kids and adults. The more I engrossed myself into mastering my own techniques, the more this art form gained respect in my eyes. My journey led to me meet more puppeteers and learn their understanding of puppetry and one day I met Puran Bhat, a traditional Indian Puppeteer, a Sahitya Akademi Award winner who lives in a slum called kathputli colony in Delhi. I was inspired by his zest for life, his passion and love for puppetry, I felt compelled to tell his story.