Jeeban o jibika

The video is a presentation on the art of puppetry in West Bengal. The art of puppetry is said to have ancient origins and is believed to have emerged in Asia around 5000 years ago. In West Bengal there are three distinct forms of traditional puppetry. These are the Beni Putul or glove puppet found mainly in the Tamluk district of Midnapore, the Dangyer Putul or rod puppet of Jaynagar in South 24 Parganas and the Tarer Putul or marionettes of the Nadia district. The film includes interviews with puppet masters who have dedicated their lives in preserving this ancient dying art form. The film takes the viewers to Borboria village where a family has struggled to keep alive the tradition of Tarer Putul or string puppetry for three generations. The viewers are taken to Jaynagar to meet a family of traditional rod puppeteers and glove puppeteers at Purba Medinipur.