Mail News Service
Seraikela, March 4:  Famous for her performance in the blockbuster movie, ‘Mirzapur,’ Rasika Duggal is in Jamshedpur for a National Geographic documentary on Saraikela School’s Chhau Dance form. She shot videos on Seraikela Chhau dance and Chhau mask production. A documentary film on the Seraikela style of Chhau dance was shot in the Kudarsai Shiva temple complex. The National Geographic project shoot was organized in collaboration with Rajkiya Chhau Nritya Kala Kendra of Saraikela. Rasika was acquainted with minute details of Saraikela Chhau dance form by the Director of Rajkiya Chhau Nritya Kala Kendra, Guru Tapan Kumar Pattanaik. Local artistes of the Kendra were joined by Guru Pattanaik for the performance of Chhau Ratri Nritya. The Guru also directed the performances of Parikhanda and Chandrabhaga in Saraikela Chhau shaili that were filmed for the National Geographic production. The entire exercise took three and half hours. The documentary also focused on the masks made for the Saraikela School of Chhau dance. Details including history of Saraikela Chhau dance masks were presented to Rasika Duggal and the other members of the filming crew by traditional and expert mask makers Sushant Kumar Mahapatra and Sumit Mahapatra. Guru Tapan Kumar Pattanaik guided the National Geographic team with Rasika Duggal keenly taking notes on the history, music, costumes and masks that had evolved through dedicated years making Saraikela Chhau dance style a popular cultural fair both, at national and international platforms. Artistes Gopal Kumar Pattanaik, Asit Kumar Pattanaik, Kusmi Pattanaik, Saroj Kumar Pattanaik, Ravi Kumar Mahato, Shivnath Shankh, Budheshwar Kumar and others performed to the delight of the film crew.
Four separate documentaries are to be filmed in Jharkhand by the National Geographic team. The documentary films include Betla- McCluskieganj-Netarhat and surrounding areas, the next on Giridih- Deoghar- Maluti and surrounding areas, the third on Jamshedpur- Khunti- Seraikela and surrounding areas and the final venture in and around Ranchi- Hazaribagh with special focus on places of tourist interest. The National Geographic team gave a special presentation of a documentary, ‘Postcards from Jharkhand,’ Chief Minister Hemant Soren who was highly impressed.