Back in June this year, we were in Majuli, Assam — the world’s largest river island, famous for its local mask-making art form. We met Padma Shri Hemchandra Goswami, who was crafting traditional masks used for Bhaona (Assamese dance-drama) that portray mythical tales like Krishna Leela, Ramleela, and Mahabharata. Made of organic materials like bamboo sticks, cow dung, and clay, these masks had a unique feature: the upper and lower jaws could be detached as the wearer spoke their dialogues.
Little did we know that Goswami’s family is one of only two in Majuli making such vibrant masks, the other being the kin of the late Kosha Kanta Deva Goswami. We learnt this fact while watching National Award-winning filmmaker Utpal Borpujari’s film, Mask Art of Majuli, screened at Village Square’s Chitrashaala, a short film festival. This festival showcased 14 films based on rural India, centred around crafts and climate change, as part of the fourth edition of India Rural Colloquy, an annual event organised by Transform Rural India.
The festival featured insightful talks from notable actors and filmmakers like Adil Hussain, Faisal Malik of Panchayat fame, and Muzaffar Ali, the director of Umrao Jaan (1981). The three panellists were chosen for their relatable work and personal backgrounds in village life, steering a dialogue on depicting real rural India in cinema, beyond exoticism. Hussain, who grew up in the remote town of Goalpara, Assam, emphasises the importance of reducing.