First Bajjika language film with ‘Launda’ dance troupe actor competes at KIFF
Times of India | 4 December 2024
Kolkata: The first-ever feature film in the Bajjika language, inspired by the true story of the daughter of a member of the ‘Launda' dance troupe who received education against societal norms in rural Bihar, is in the Indian language competition at the 30th Kolkata Internation Film Festival (KIFF). It is the first time that a KIFF film has a ‘Launda' dance troupe member in the cast.
Shooting was tough since the director had to negotiate the caste divides among the villagers — all first-time actors — and get them to shoot together. Debutant director Aaryan Chandra Prakash's ‘Aājoor' tells the story of Saloni, the daughter of a ‘Launda' dance troupe member, and her fight for education. Shot in Bihar's Sitamarhi, the film was crowd-funded by over 500 contributors worldwide. Born and raised in rural Bihar, the director's debut feature is a fruit of his decision to empower his community through cinema. ‘Aājoor', a result of his two years of script development and the training of non-professional actors from his village, stands out for the empathetic gaze of a father from a marginalised community who champions the cause of his daughter's right to education, especially in the face of social resistance. Yet, the film is never patronising and takes an interesting perspective on the gender divide in rural India that prompts boys from underprivileged backgrounds to get lured by social media while girls take refuge in nature.
Sajiwan Paswan, a real-life Launda dance troupe member, played the lead with his reel daughter essayed by Stuti Chandra Prakash. "They are not father and daughter in real life and come from different caste hierarchies. Initially, there was resistance from the villagers. Many questioned why someone from outside our community was chosen. Through persistent communication, I helped them understand that coming together for this project would create something memorable for the entire community," the director said.
‘Aājoor' took five years to make, with the cast undergoing extensive practice sessions over a period of one-and-a-half years. "These sessions made them comfortable not only with the camera but also with each other. That ultimately brought authenticity to their performances," he added. Paswan told TOI that he was happy with the experience. "We have worked hard to play our roles. The number of our shows has gone down now. Few of our members are aware that I have acted in a film. They are happy. I am looking forward to my first Kolkata visit for the film's premiere," Paswan said.
Shooting a film with co-actors divided on caste lines was challenging. "Sajiwan Paswan comes from a different village, primarily inhabited by people from lower castes, whereas most of the other actors belonged to different communities from a neighbouring village. Initially, there was hesitation in collaborating. However, with open and consistent dialogue, we were able to convince everyone to come together. To symbolise this unity, we intentionally shot Sajiwan Paswan's scene as the very first one. This moment set the tone and became a celebration of breaking barriers and fostering community togetherness," he pointed out.
Casting villagers was a very conscious decision since they already embodied the body language, dialect, and intonation the story required. But the natural authenticity risked being compromised since the villagers had an instinct to ‘act' once the camera started rolling. "As soon as they saw the camera, they would try to imitate conventional acting styles. We spent over a year of training to simply live their real lives in front of the camera rather than trying to perform. This approach brought a raw, genuine quality to the film," he said.