EntertainmentPosted at: Dec 8 2025 1:14PM


Bengal's folk theatre Jatra Pala finds a new voice through documentary

By Nayanika Samanta
Kolkata, Dec 8 (UNI) Arghya Mukherjee's new documentary "Jatra Pala: The Echoes of an Open Stage" offers a rare glimpse into Bengal's celebrated folk theatre, Jatra Pala, exploring how this centuries-old art form continues to thrive amidst waves of modern entertainment.
The film explores the art form through the eyes of veteran performers like Kakoli Chowdhury and Anal Chakraborty, reflecting both the folk theatre's rich history and its ongoing revival.
For Mukherjee, the project is deeply personal. "I chose Jatra because it is woven into my family history. My great-grandfather, Shyamapada Mukherjee, was a Jatra artist. The film even opens with his name. He came from an extremely humble background and endured immense hardship while pursuing his passion for performance. His struggles, his artistry, all have shaped generations in my family and, perhaps unknowingly, shaped me."
"Jatra was a childhood paradox for me", he told UNI.
Mukherjee admired quiet, sensitive cinema, yet he was equally captivated by the feverish energy of village performances, the painted faces, the raucous crowds, the live storytelling. "It was loud but beautiful, and it carried out history long before films or OTT existed."
Mukherjee began the journey believing he would be capturing the twilight of an old tradition. But field visits across Hoogly, Bardhaman, Purulia and Bankura revealed a vibrant, evolving scene.
Young performers were reinventing Jatra, bringing fresh imagination while keeping its traditional spirit alive. Research at the Paschim Bangla Jatra Academy and consultations with scholars and practitioners further enriched the film.
The production faced no shortage of hurdles. Mukherjee encountered resistance and scepticism from urban observers who dismissed Jatra as outdated or inferior. But a compelling teaser, stitched together from footage captured in Hooghly, Bankura and Bardhaman, ultimately secured SRFTI's (Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute) support. Though the project was sanctioned at Rs 30,000, Mukherjee admits the real cost climbed to about Rs 1 lakh, most of it paid from his own pocket.
"It was genuinely one of the most enriching experiences of my life," says the 30-year-old director. "Travelling through rural Bengal taught me that if one truly wants to understand culture, one has to step outside the city." Jatra shows begin late at night and even when the crew arrived unannounced, villagers welcomed them warmly, offering food, shelter and stories.
"My crew came from Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Bihar, yet we all felt instantly at home. Working with the performers and local crew erased every sense of distance."
He admits that if he ever finds success in cinema, it is this journey that will stay with him.
"Right now I'm tied to the institute's requirements, so my next film will be a small fiction piece shot within the campus," he told UNI."
"But I intend to return to Jatra with a longer documentary. It was restricted to 25 minutes even though I shot for a much longer duration. The audiences want a more detailed documentary. I also want to capture other Bengali folk practices that are slowly fading from public memory."
After the warm reception during the screening at the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), the documentary is set to continue its circuit with a February 13-14 (2026) premiere at the Jaipur International Film Festival in Delhi. UNI NST SSP
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