Chhau performance (ALF review)

It was a blessing beyond measure to have got the opportunity to witness Purulia Chhau performance in the ALF 4.0 2025. It was a brilliant performance that’s been lingering in my mind for quite some time now and I’m pretty sure it would reel in my head for a very long time. On entering the hangar, we could first hear the sound check. It was pretty loud and in all brutal honesty, I was annoyed. I was wondering why a posh community of scholars would entertain something so loud and primitive in such an elite festival. I thought I’d prefer some western performance to this, which would have guarded the serene air with melodies. It didn’t take long for this idea to be ripped into pieces and thrown down the drain. The moment the first character, without announcement, ran into the stage and started dancing, caught the attention of everyone in the room and baited them to rapt concentration. The vibrant colours of the clothes and the very bright and artistic masks blew my mind. The loose ends of the clothing and the accessories shaking with the dance movements, added definition to each move making it more enjoyable. Every move was on point. The choreography was extremely tough and tiring. I was already tired watching them dance such hard moves while, at the same time, being energized by the beat and their swift movements. The way the music complimented the dance was extraordinary. The coordination was perfect. The entry of Mahishasura filled the air with tension and evil waves, which was very tactfully achieved through the variation in music and dance moves. When Durga maa came in, it was a spectacle. The vibrance and power came to dominance the minute she entered. The dance was so energetic that it kept all of us hooked to the performance and not one of us dared take our eyes off for a second, fearing we’d miss something spectacular. The lion – played by two people, was an ultimate display of perfect coordination. The music and the dance went hand in hand and succeeded in the effective rendition of the story. At the end of almost 40 mins, which felt like a few seconds, I had an entirely different take on the matter. It was indeed a slap on my face and a very valuable lesson. India and its rich art forms with the unmatched brilliance and vividness came alive in front of my eyes. I have learnt and started to appreciate indigenous art forms and the worth of the priceless radiance of Indian art after I witnessed this powerful performance. Though ballet would instill serenity, I don’t think it would have electrified the atmosphere with such awe and energy. My respect for this art heightened after this experience and it was surely one of a kind.