[DOCUWALLAHS2] May 25, 2018 | Screening of Naach Bhikhari Naach

[Shilpi Gulati [e-mail] [docuwallahs2]]

Dear All,
We are delighted to announce the the screening of our film *Naach Bhikhari
Naach* at the Habitat Film Festival this Friday. We hope those in the Delhi
can join us on *May 25, 2018 at 7pm*. Free online passes available at
http://habitatfilmclub.com/booknow-may2018.php?ID=364.
Regards,
Jainendra Dost and Shilpi Gulati




*Naach Bhikhari Naach*
Directed by Shilpi Gulati and Jainendra Dost
Bhojpuri with English Subtitles
72 min/Colour

Trailer:

Naach is a form of traditional folk theatre from Bihar, India. In this
tradition, male artists often cross dress as women on stage and are
referred to as ‘laundas’. The most legendary name in this tradition is
Bhikari Thakur’s— who was an actor, playwright, and a social reformer
popularly known as the ‘Shakespeare of Bhojpuri.’ The film follows the last
four Naach performers to have worked him and creates a visual archive of
his performance tradition. As they share their plays, songs and a lifetime
of memories, they immerse us into the world of folk theatre where we begin
to see a glimpse of budhau – the old man, himself.

*About the filmmakers:*

Jainendra is a doctoral scholar at the School of Arts and Aesthetics,
Jawaharlal Nehru University. His work examines the social and political
realities of Launda Nach and Bhikhari Thakur's folk theatre in Bihar. His
theoretical inquiry closely ties into his experience as a theatre
practitioner over the 18 years where he has directed 11 stage productions
and acted in more than 15 national and international theatre
presentations. Jainendra is also the Director of Bhikhari Thakur Repertory
Training and Research Centre which is working towards the revival of folk
theatre in Bihar. In the past, his work has been supported by India
Foundation for the Arts (IFA) and Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India.



Shilpi Gulati is a filmmaker and researcher based out of New Delhi. Her
body of work largely engages with themes of gender, performance and oral
traditions in India. Her last documentary ‘Qissa-e Parsi’ (2014) won the
National Award for the Best Ethnographic Film and her other works, ‘Inside
Out’ (2010), ‘Dere to Delhi’ (2012) and ‘Lock and Key’ (2017) have been
screened at various festivals in Asia, Europe and the US. Shilpi is also a
Fulbright scholar and is currently pursuing her PhD at Jawaharlal Nehru
University.