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| A Behrupiya dressed as Mahatma Gandhi talking to people at National Behrupiya Festival, By Mohsin Javed |
A multidisciplinary annual festival featured about 70 performers from across the country on the ancient art form of Behrupiya or imitation at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi.
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| A Behrupiya dressed as Charlie Chaplin at National Behrupiya Festival, By Mohsin Javed |
IGNCA in collaboration with Rupesh Sahay, Vilas Janve and Martand Foundation organised the three-day ‘National Behrupiya Festival’.
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| A Behrupiya is getting ready at National Behrupiya Festival, By Mohsin Javed |
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| A Behrupiya is getting ready at National Behrupiya Festival, By Mohsin Javed |
The annual festival attempts to showcase the ancient and rare art form of India and bring this unique art on the mainstream and to create honour among the public for this old traditional art form.
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| A Behrupiya dressed as Idol at National Behrupiya Festival, By Mohsin Javed |
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| A Behrupiya dressed as Mangal Pandey at National Behrupiya Festival, By Mohsin Javed |
The ‘Behrupiyas’ are from various states of India to exhibit their talent of solo, duet and group presentations.
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| A portrait of an angry Behrupiya at National Behrupiya Festival, By Mohsin Javed |
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| A behrupiya artist who's portraying the role of Hindu god Hanuman at National Behrupiya Festival, By Mohsin Javed |
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| A Behrupiya dressed as Sadhu at National Behrupiya Festival, By Mohsin Javed |
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| A portrait of Behrupiya dressed as Shiva at National Behrupiya Festival, By Mohsin Javed |
An exhibition of paintings and photographs on ‘Behrupiya’ art, documentation and interactions with media, students and theatre artistes was also the integral parts of the Festival.
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| People enjoying the National Behrupia Festival, By Mohsin Javed |
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| Behrupiyas dressed as Tribe at National Behrupiya Festival, By Mohsin Javed |
Who is Behrupiya
We all wear mask to hide our real self. In that light, everyone is a behrupiya. But when, back in ages, some people saw behrupiya as their life-goals, it became more than a behavioural trait. It became an art form. And that too a unique one.
Face and body painted, donning an especially designer attire, imbibing the mannerisms of a particular character a behrupiya would roam the streets, interacting, performing, entertaining anyone they would on their way. There are no scripts, no defined plots or staged act as such. It’s spontaneous acting. It’s conservation with the audience.
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| Sadanand Ramchandra Gavankar aged 59, a farmer by profession dressed as Idol at National Behrupiya Festival, By Mohsin Javed |
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| Behrupiyas performing at National Behrupiya Festival, By Mohsin Javed |
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| Children with Behrupiya who is dressed as Mahatma Gandhi at National Behrupiya Festival, By Mohsin Javed |
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| Subal Das Bairagyo one of the most experienced Behrupiya artist, entertain the people with his role as Mother Teresa. He has been performing as a Behrupiya artist all over the country from the last 45 years and has earned a huge respect from the fellow artists who consider him as the best, By Mohsin Javed |
Today, this ancient art form is dying. The behrupiyas, who have been around for centuries are now facing a world where they are losing ground to TV, internet and other forms of entertainment.
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| A Behrupiya is taking a selfie at National Behrupiya Festival, By Mohsin Javed |
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| People enjoying the National Behrupia Festival, By Mohsin Javed |
A small click of the National Behrupiya Festival, By Mohsin Javed
Source : Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts
All Photos © Mohsin Javed