When designer Sabyasachi claimed to have ‘brought back’ the Banarasi saree through his brand, after the Virushka wedding, there was a huge hue and cry. And rightly so, because critics claimed that the designer wanted to take away credit from the skilled weavers. It is, in fact, true that these weavers have never been given their due.
And this is what the documentary Bunkar — The Last of the Varanasi Weavers is all about. The lives of the weavers, the story behind their revered art form, its rich history mapped through generations and dynasties…this is what the film talks about.
It also talks about the current state of the industry and why many weavers are giving up their craft. Answer: A lack of recognition and acknowledgment of their art, along with a total failure of the industry to take care of its artisans.
Upon being asked why he chose this subject for his documentary (shot over a period of almost a year), director Satyaprakash Upadhyay says, “Curiosity made me dig deeper. What I found was the compelling story of an art that has thrived for thousands of years but today is finding itself at the doorstep of ruin.
Artists are feeling compelled to make unending sacrifices just so their art can live one day more.” The director hopes that his film will prove to be an eye-opener for those millions who are unaware of the what the real multi-faceted problems are for these weavers.
Watch the trailer below.
