Revisiting the Philosophy of Verrier Elwin: Tribal Animation Festival

Dr. Verrier Elwin documented a vast number of folktales across Central and North East India. His collections have provided source material for the Tales of the Tribes, most notably for the story of Abotani from Arunachal Pradesh, in the Myths of the North-east Frontier of India, Volume I (1958). The Tribal Animation Film Festival showcases selected animated adaptations of tribal folk stories.

 

The Story of the Peacock

From the Pardhan Gonds of Madhya Pradesh 

 

When Bara Dev created the peacock he first made all the parts – the head, feathers, tail, legs and crown separately. The Lapwing decided that she would take the legs for herself

 

The film was developed by Gond artists and students of the National Institute of Design

 

Man Tiger Spirit

From the Angami tribe of Nagaland

 

Spirit, Tiger and Man are three brothers born from a union between sky and earth. The three were unable to live together in harmony, and Man used his cunning to outwit Tiger, forcing him to live in the jungle. Man is separated from Spirit but becomes an important chief who remembers his dependence on nature

 

Abotani

From the Tani tribes of Arunachal Pradesh

 

Abotani is a story about the mythical hero Abotani and his relationship with is brother, a spirit or Yapom

 

Raven Tales (24 min)

An episode from the animated series made in Canada. Raven Tales introduces Aboriginal folklore in a humourous and entertaining way. Each episode features an original interpretation of a popular tale of one of the many adventures of Raven, the most powerful deity of the mythology of Canada’s First Peoples

 

Hum Chitra Banate Hain (We Make Images; 8 min)

An animated interpretation of an origin myth from the Bhil community in Madhya Pradesh. For the Bhil community, painting is like offering a prayer and the film reveals why. The film is a collaboration between indigenous artist Sher Singh from the community and the filmmaker Nina Sabnani that explores ways of telling together

 

Screening will be followed by a discussion with the filmmakers

Coordinated by Tara Douglas

 

(Collaboration: The Adivasi Arts Trust; and Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research, Jamia Millia Islamia)