Armed with a diploma in prosthetic make-up, Arun Kumar Malik of the NSD will be in Goa this December with a special workshop on mask making
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With a post-graduate diploma in acting from National School of Drama, this master of fine arts has a diploma in prosthetic make-up from the prestigious Hibrid Fx Studio, UK. Winner of Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2013-2015 by Sangeet Natak Akademi (New Delhi), Arun Kumar Malik has mastered the art of making masks using various types of material and for different dance forms. A faculty at the National School of Drama in New Delhi, Arun agrees to have been fascinated by the vivid and rich culture of his home-state Odisha since he was a child.
Mentioning that the Indian states are rich in folk art and music and each state has a unique way of celebrations during festive occasions which make them special, Malik speaks of Odisha, a culturally rich state where a lot of rituals and festivals are celebrated almost every week and where different types of masks and sculptures are used.
“As a child, it attracted me a lot so I used to try and make those masks and sculptures. Gradually I mastered the art. When I was pursuing graduation in Fine Arts, I learned more details about it and when I joined theatre, it gave me a new perspective. I used masks to create characters using different colours and expressions,” shares this artist who will be conducting a special workshop on mask making in Goa beginning from December 1. Invited as a resource person across the country to train students of theatre art in acting, directing, set designing and mask making, Malik will be in Goa from 1-5 December at Fine Art Studio in Sanskruti Bhavan.
Highlighting that the most interesting part in the masks used in various dance forms is the expression and colour, Malik points out that as he changes the colour and expressions of the mask, the character also changes. “Every mask symbolises a unique character according to the expression and colour given to it,” he says.
Boasting of Odisha’s rich folk art culture, he states that the folk art performances in his state are associated with masks. Baunsa Rani, Chaiti Ghoda, Changu Nata, Chhau, Dalkhai, Danda Nata, Dasakathia, Dhanu Jatra, Ghanta Patua, Ghoomra, Jhoomar, Karma, Kathinacha, Kedu, Kela Keluni, Krishna Leela, Medha Nacha, Naga dance, Paika Nrutya, Pala, Patua Jatra, Puppet dance, Rama Leela, Ranappa and Samprada Baddi Pala, Gotti Pua, Dhudki dance, Sambalpuri dance, Dwari dance are some popular dance forms that need masks.
Masks are made of papier-mâché, cow dung, wood, bamboo, clay, cloth, fibre, rubber, plastic, latex, etc. Making a mask is an art and wearing it while you dance is another art. It’s important to spread awareness on this, feels Malik. “It was very popular decades ago, but not so much now. There is so much scope in this art form that it can give other art forms new life. And by spreading it we can preserve our cultural forms,” he states.
In Odisha, masks are used in Bagh Nritya, Shahi Jatra, Dola Jatra and different tribal folk dances. Same goes for masks like Purulia Chhau in West Bengal, Bastar (wooden mask) in Madhya Pradesh, Seraikela Chhau in Jharkhand, Mahiravana in Jalpaiguri (West Bengal), Satriya in Assam, Prayankali Kolam, Vividha for Krishnattam and Kathakkali masks in Kerala, Bhuta in Karnataka, Bhairava in Maharashtra, Ramleela all over India, Buddhist Chham dance mask etc.
And having exhibited his talent in hundreds of plays and dances, Malik not only takes make-up, advance make-up, mask and props making classes at NSD in Delhi but also takes classes for the extension department of NSD at more than 20 states.
