Sita Ben Chavda is one of the heroes of Notes From A Craftsman . She hails from Saurashtra but lives in the old part of Ahmedabad, and is a craftsman who has learnt beadwork embroidery from her father.
She learnt it because of circumstance — having divorced twice by the time she was 20 — and worked her way up the ladder. Today, she’s 60-plus and is one of the prime contributors to Tilla, a design studio based in Ahmedabad. Chavda is a part of the 25-minute film, which will be showcased in the city today, as an attempt to explore the lives of five such craftspeople who’ve worked with the studio for many years.
“It not just shows their workplaces but also gives you a peek into their philosophy and value system,” says Aratrik Dev Varman, the textile and fashion designer who founded Tilla.
“The person behind a handmade object is not just well-skilled but also has a thinking mind — he/she has to plan, procure and then execute. I feel it is important for patrons to shift the focus from object-focus to people-focus.”
Notes From A Craftsman was born when a friend bounced off the idea to Aratrik, who was busy making clothes, and “not films”. “Like most films, the narrative emerged after we shot it. What these people were demonstrating through their actions were simple truths, like working for the love of it and finding your own path.” Though they were tight on budget, Aratrik ensured that Notes From A Craftsman was not “documentary-like but aesthetically shot.” He believes that while it is based in Ahmedabad, its theme is universal as it records a changing landscape of crafts that are adapting to stay relevant. “It is also a reminder of how we are all connected as makers, designers or patrons of these crafts.”
Watch Notes From A Craftsman today at The Folly, Amethyst, at 11 am.
