The Alkap Story: Very Good Documentary

A traditional form of mass communication from Murshidabad, Alkap was used to raise awareness about social injustices and taboos. Today, however, the lack of financial support and influences of popular culture is rendering the original Alkap almost extinct. Alkap is a folk song and a dance tradition of Bengal. In this form, performers just have a notion of the plot and the actual performance takes place as an improvisation in the manner of Italian "Commedia del Arte." The performers are divided into two groups that evokes a verbal argument and when the limits of oral exchange is reached, the play begins to evoke a sexual humor. Traditionally, the plays were often performed outside the jurisdiction area because of the sexual connotation within the play. Today the roles that men traditionally played in the plays, by cross

Release date
2009
Running time
12:03
Language
English
Director
Joydeep Ghosh
Producers
Public Diplomacy Division Ministry of External Affairs
Category
Documentary