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Before photographing the Jatra artistes, I used to

speak with them for a couple of weeks or even a

few months in order to understand them and the

various characters that they played.

After figuring out which characters they would like

to portray for my character, I would make a few

rough sketches as they would help me visualise the

final photograph.

While shooting, I also try to keep the fable of the

King and the Spider in my mind. Every day cannot

be my day, and there are times when my shot just

doesn’t work out, but I don’t lose hope.

Experiences that Became the Basis for this Documentation Project

Kanhai Bangor, 66, is

a farmer by profession

but is famous for Vivek,

a character that he

played for a drama titled

Conscience. Ghatal,

West Bengal.

“Where went

the audience

who would

be transfixed

by plots that

ranged from

mythological and

historical stories

to social and

contemporary

issues?”

Dr Bholanath Banik,

57, and Sudarshon

Chakarbakarty, 66,

both immensely gifted

artistes, have been

working in the Jatra

since 1960, but are now

on the dole. Jagannath

Hall, Bangladesh.

Rabin Kumar Majhi,

51, and Anukul Ghosh,

63, pose as a newly

married couple.

Ghosh used to play

female characters in

the 1970s and 1980s.

He has now retired

from Jatra. Pathra,

West Bengal.

Better PhotograPhy

109

aPril 2015

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