AS a leader of the masses (ganas), Ganesh is also called Ganapati. In mythology, Ganesh has also been referred to as Vinayak. However, the mythological accounts with regards to his origin or his birth is extremely confusing. Even ‘Brahma Purana’ says Parvati created him out of the ‘clay like dirt of her own body’.
Assembling both the aspects - the plight of the ‘bhumiputras’ (native tribes) or ‘ganas’ and projecting the origin of Ganesh from clay like substance, city-based People’s Academy of Cinematic Amination and Design (PACAD) has developed a clay animation project ‘Gana-raaj: Rise of the tribes’ , a four-minute film by its founder Ranjit Mohanty.
‘‘As in the creative and advertisement circles clay animation has gained so much of prominence, we hope experimenting with something new would definitely help young creative minds to explore in the field more’’, he said. ‘‘In this case clay symbolises the mother earth and the ‘bhumiputra’ or tribal characters would emerge from clay. The medium of animation has capability to communicate a lot and that too in very less time. The film will be a symbolic potrayal of the issue of the native tribes and creation of Ganesh. This form is capable of creating ripples in million minds. And it might also turn into a movement,’’ he added.
‘‘Gana-raaj: Rise of the tribes’’ would be the first ever attempt in clay animation from Orissa. Apart from the characters, background and properties are ‘tailor-made’ with tribal art forms such as Soura, Dhokra and Kapasi. The clay characters are also inspired by terracotta form. So it would be a complete synergy of ancient tribal forms, technology, photography and principles of animation’’, Mohanty added.
Around 15 students of the institute have donned the role of clay animators who are on the job to complete the four minute film which will be photographed by Nivedita Mohanty under the direction of Saroj Kumar Tripathy.
bibhutibarik@epmltd.com