CHHATTISGARH SKETCHES


Having been only one previous time to India - that to be on the jury of a new Digital festival in Delhi, this was my first real chance to see a small bit of this huge and varied country. The purpose was work, and what I was able to see and have time for shooting was restricted in time - I was just too busy most of the time working with my students, both in Raipur (one month) and in Kolkata (another month) - they were, afterall, using my cameras most of the time as well.

My shooting was limited to a handful of weekends, in the wake of whatever my hosts threw me into - a wedding, visits to some local temples, a crazed 3 hour motorbike journey on dirt roads, and their own simple homes. I had a marvelous time, and this work is simply a glimpse of a journey which was both illuminating, enjoyable, and just plain fun, never mind it was 12 hours and more a day of work as well. I think the fun part shows, both in the film, but also, and importantly, in the material shot by my students.