Mukha Xilpo, The Mask Making Tradition of Majuli
The objective of the documentary is to bring forth an ancient craftmanship invented by 16th-century reformer and philosopher Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev. The craftsmanship is called ‘Mukha Xilpo’ originating from the ideology of Sankardev’s Neo-Vaishnavism. This craft is still relevant in 21st century, and that is what the documentary wants to highlight.
The place of shooting is Majuli, Assam where Mukha Xilpo is prevalent. ‘Samuguri Satra’ is the flag bearer of Mask Making Craftmanship even today and hence, the story of Mukha Xilpo will be narrated through the lenses of ‘Samuguri Satra’. The history, origin and its sustenance in the contemporary era are shown via the documentary with focus on craftsmanship.
Overall, 3 Satras are covered to narrate the story of Srimanta Sankardev’s craftsmanship and its assets. The Mising community is also captured to show the origin of the craft.
The documentary also shows belongings of Srimanta Sankardev which are considered cultural treasures of the land. The documentary captures the economic/commercial aspect of ‘Mukha’ in today’s time and what is required to be carried forward. The idea is to provide an overall understanding of the rich heritage and its significance in the 21st century.
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Annanya BhuyanDirector
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Kalpataru GogoiWriter
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Annanya BhuyanProducer
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Project Title (Original Language):'মুখা শিল্প : মাজুলীৰ ঐতিহাসিক মুখা তৈয়াৰ কৰাৰ শিল্পকলা'
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Project Type:Documentary
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Genres:Culture
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Runtime:16 minutes 19 seconds
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Completion Date:August 26, 2023
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Production Budget:3,040 USD
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Country of Origin:India
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Country of Filming:India
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Language:Assamese
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:Yes - Gauhati University
Annanya Bhuyan is a PhD scholar with education and field of work in arts and culture. She has a Master's degree in Sustainable Development with varied experiences in research, content writing, designing, creative digital marketing and social entrepreneurship.
The motive behind my documentary was to capture a river island called Majuli and its inhabitants who are the descendants of a 16th century craftmanship invented by a socio-religious leader Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev. He was a persona who uplifted the Assamese Culture in various aspects. He acted as an inspiration for me from entrepreneurial point of view when I wanted to promote the Mask Making Craftsmanship of Majuli, Assam.