Dance can be the simplest and yet, most effective form of communication in human life. In the heart of West Bengal’s Purulia district, generations of Chhau dancers know this to be true. “I have witnessed three generations of dancers, from the same family,” shares Indranil Mukherjee, founder member of the photography collective, Vibgyor. In 2018, Mukherjee witnessed the prowess of these performers at an event in Mumbai, and it sparked a fascination with the art form. This weekend, he will host 10 dancers from Purulia for a rare performance in Navi Mumbai to shine a light on this heritage.

The last stand

“I grew up in Kolkata, where Chhau would often be part of Durga Puja pandals come September. They were dynamic, action-based with movements that were magical to a child’s eye,” shares Mukherjee, who moved to the city in 2015. By then, he had already established the photography collective, Vibgyor. The 2018 performance of Chhau only affirmed the collective’s decision to plan a trip to Bengal.