Kobi, The Versifier.
Director: Mousumi Bilkis. Camera person: Sanjeeb Das. Editor: Pradipta Bhattachariya. Produced by Roopkala Kendro, Kolkata
Kobigaan basically is versified debate. At the core of the art is debate between two opponent versifiers over an issue. It is presented through songs accompanied with music. The most remarkable part of the performance is that the lyrics of the songs are composed extempore. The subject may be a mythological, philosophical or even, a contemporary social or political issue.
Dulali Chitrakar is a kobi or versifier. She hails from Murshidabad and reigns over the whole of West Bengal in her field. In the male-dominated world of contemporary versifiers, she is a strong voice to be heard. Born in a poor family of idol-makers ('Chitrakar' or 'Patua' in Bengali who are folk artist and make idol or scroll painting.) in a remote village, she had to fight all odds to gain her present stature.
The documentary endeavors to realize the warp and weft of Dulali's life that has got interwoven with her art.
copy right: Roopkala Kendro, 2004.
Part 2: • Kobi, The Versifier, p...
Part 3: • Kobi, The Versifier, p...