At a time when much is being written about our Government’s initiative for skill development and upgradation, Ranajit Ray’s film “Documentation Of Clay Image Makers Of Kumartuli”, provides the ground reality. The winner of 62nd National Award for Best Promotional Film makes a strong case for artisans. Spurred on by his childhood memories of Kumartuli, Ray was keen to know its present condition and decided to document the image-making process. Unaided by a script their narration guided the film’s path.
Spread across 19,392 sq. metres, Kumartuli, meaning potters’ quarters, came into being when kumhars or the potter caste from Krishnanagar, 100 kilometres from Kolkata, settled down making idols for families and later for community worshipping by caste or clan members. Emergence of voluntary associations and growing prosperity of the city led to a spurt in the demand for the idols.
The 52-minute documentary dexterously weaves the history of the place and inhabitants’ stories while finely detailing the image-making process.
In an e-mail interview Ray discussed various aspects about the film
Edited excerpts:
On the concept and objective of the film
The initial idea was to make a pure documentation film about the process of making Durga’s image. Eventually it became a film about the idol makers, their lifestyle, profession and artistic skills, inspirations and regrets – their past, present and future.
On the need to preserve this art form…
With escalating prices the cost of idols has gone up but the makers are not getting the price. So there are losses. Bank loans have become costly. They have been stopped because it couldn’t be repaid in full, so loans have to be taken from elsewhere at high interest rates. It is a cycle. Take a bank loan. Repay it. Take another loan. And work on and on. Nothing’s saved, to build a house, or live well. That’s how it is. Most of them are trying to get their children to opt for another profession. Those who can’t afford are stuck. But as long as there is Durga Puja festival this profession will not die.
On research done for the film
As such there is no such archival record about the history of Kumartuli barring a few old articles and photographs which I found insufficient because some facts and figures are very old and mostly written without proper survey. So I started my own research with my assistant. We talked to a cross-section of idol-makers, old and young, leaders, office bearer of their various idol makers’ organisations, permanent and migratory workers, skilled and unskilled both, women idol makers and makers of idols’ ancillary like pitch sola artists and paper/thermocal ornament makers, idol’s weapon makers, bullion ornament makers, chalchitra painters and hair manufacturer. Interestingly, the hair used for Durga’s images are processed from jute by Muslims.
On the living conditions of Kumartuli residents
There is no sanitary plumbing or piped water. There are a few taps on the roadside in which water comes at fixed hours. Bylanes are dirty and narrow. The studios double up as living quarters. Most of the property is privately owned. Noted idol maker Dilip Pal narrated to us that Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority had planned development and work in block C had commenced with its dwellers relocated. Later it came to halt as KMDA had started demolition without acquiring the land. Others like, Jatin Pal, a land owner, stressed the need for consensus among everyone.
On steps taken by the Government
Government has not taken any steps so far. Neither accommodation nor a living place nor help them to acquire any capital.
On response to the film
Wherever it was screened people were moved by the pathetic living and working condition of the image makers. If by any way that converts to some kind of action which becomes beneficial for them I would consider my effort to be of value.
