চাদিয়া চাদিয়ানি

Domain:Performing arts

State:

Description:

The video is a presentation on the folk drama called the Chadiya-Chadiyani of the Shabar people of West Bengal. In the south-west part of Bengal in the district West Medinipur at the banks of the River Subarnarekha are dense jungles inhabited by the Shabar and Lotha tribes. The forest dwelling Shabars were known for their distinctive folk theatre, dances and songs which were eventually picked up with enthusiasm by the villagers living around the jungles. The film takes us to the village of Kukrakhupi in Sankrail Thana where the rare theatre form of Chadiya-Chadiyani is still practiced. In the play the Shabar male is represented by the chadiya (male sparrow) and the female Shabar by chadiyani (female sparrow). The play was written by Sri Sristidhar in 1957 and tells the story of Panchanan and Malati, a couple who are separated for 12 years and then are reunited after much travail.