Meghalaya, September 7th Shillong Archery (Nikon)
Director: Anushka Meenakshi, Iswar Srikumar; Cinematographer: Anushka Meenakshi, Iswar Srikumar
Duration: 01:00:41; Aspect Ratio: 1.778:1; Hue: 48.724; Saturation: 0.048; Lightness: 0.487; Volume: 0.171; Cuts per Minute: 31.796
Summary: The
route the train from Delhi to Guwahati takes is surprisingly beautiful and we
spent an entire speeding past stunningly green fields of paddy and brimming
rivers and ponds. It was monsoon time, so we had thunderstorms and really dark
clouds every now and then, but most of the time, just a refreshing cool breeze
and a lovely soft light through which we saw all the possible clichés of
idyllic farm life – the paddy rustling in the wind, men cycling their carts
with sacks of paddy, a guy leading his herd of pigs across a stream, a group of
young girls in school uniforms cycling on a mud road that cuts across the
farms, birds skimming the water surface, lazy bullock, women dressed in
colourful saris knee deep in the paddy-water, you get the general idea… The
next morning, our train was a about five hours late so we spent the morning
chugging through more paddy fields, but this time in Assam. The difference in
these fields were the large number of banana, coconut and bamboo trees
surrounding the rice fields, and women dressed in kimono-like outfits with
conical straw hats. The other nice thing on this train is that many of the
small stations had vendors selling local snacks, aside from the usual aloo-puri
which seems to have taken over most of the country.
Shillong
was one of the first places we went to once we reached the north east. Anushka
had already been here once before and spoken about the archery that happens in
Shillong.
The
archery is part of a unique lottery system they have here and it happens every
evening in a large maidan near the Polo Grounds. A target – really, just a thin
cylinder made of hay – is put up at one end of the maidan and professional
archers stand around in a semi circle and when the signal is given they all
start firing arrows at the pole. The whole thing lasts about a couple of
minutes and if you blink for too long you may just miss it. To signal the end,
a man staring at his watch yells out for people to stop and they have a
ceremony of counting all the arrows that have hit the target.
All
over Meghalaya there are lottery booths where people bet money on the last two
digits. For instance if 439 arrows found the mark, then all those who bet 39 go
home happy. This happens twice a day.
Earlier
on, rice beer and yew (distilled liquor) were served at the archery. Now it’s
only tea and some snacks. The archers are from varying age groups, 20’s to
70’s. Although they are there for the two rounds of archery, the real
enthusiasm comes when they gamble amongst themselves in between the two rounds.
The games vary, smaller targets, throwing arrows as darts etc.
The
young guys take aim. The older ones just shoot. No matter how brilliant the
younger ones are, you can’t take your eyes off the old guys. Wrinkly, leathery
skin. Beedi smoke clouding their eyes, alcohol on their breath and a never
ending optimism in their eyes. Some of them wear suits some are in sporting
gear. The bow just sits in the palm of their hands like a feather. And the way
they pick up an arrow seems like they are about to play the violin. Some of
them hold on to 4 or 5 arrows like a hand fan and shoot at top speed. Some just
sit and barely shoot.
There
is definitely a strong sense of rhythm, which changes from person to person.
And just like a good harmony, all these individual rhythms come together to
make a visually rich form of silent music.
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0001.MOV
Train
Shillong, Meghalaya
Jalpaiguri
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0004.MOV
Train
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0005.MOV
Train
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0021.MOV
Train
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0073.MOV
Train
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0092.MOV
Train
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0093.MOV
Train
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0116.MOV
Train
Archery
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0141.MOV
Archery
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0142.MOV
Archery
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0143.MOV
Archery
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0144.MOV
Anushka walking in shilling market
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0161.MOV
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0183.MOV
Shillong market, crowd scene
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0192.MOV
Shillong market, crowd scene
CU of woman Shillong market
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0193.MOV
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0194.MOV
Shillong market, Cu of man
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0196.MOV
Shillong market, general
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0199.MOV
Shillong market, vegetables
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0202.MOV
Shillong market
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0209.MOV
Vegetable vendors
Archery
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0259.MOV
Iswar and Anushka walking to betting booth
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0261.MOV
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0262.MOV
Shopkkeper explaining lottery rules
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0263.MOV
Shopkkeper explaining lottery rules
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0264.MOV
Shopkkeper explaining lottery rules
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0265.MOV
Shopkkeper explaining lottery rules
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0266.MOV
Shopkkeper explaining lottery rules
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0267.MOV
Shopkeeper CU
CUs of arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0268.MOV
CUs of arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0269.MOV
CUs of arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0271.MOV
Marksmen checking arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0272.MOV
Marksmen checking arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0273.MOV
Marksmen checking arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0274.MOV
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0275.MOV
Target getting readied
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0276.MOV
Marksmen checking arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0277.MOV
Marksmen checking arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0278.MOV
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0279.MOV
Nalah behind archery
Bows hanging
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0280.MOV
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0281.MOV
People placing bets
Archers checking arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0282.MOV
Archers checking arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0283.MOV
Archers checking arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0284.MOV
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0285.MOV
Target being placed
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0286.MOV
Target being placed
Archers take positions
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0287.MOV
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0288.MOV
target
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0289.MOV
target
Archers getting ready
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0290.MOV
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0291.MOV
Time lapse of target being hit by arrows
Archers watching
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0292.MOV
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0293.MOV
Removing arrows from target
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0294.MOV
Removing arrows from target
Counting arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0295.MOV
Counting arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0296.MOV
Counting arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0297.MOV
Counting arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0298.MOV
Cu arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0299.MOV
Counting arrows, announcing the result
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0300.MOV
Anushka talking about our loss
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0301.MOV
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0302.MOV
Result on the score board
Archers checking arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0303.MOV
Archers checking arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0304.MOV
Archers checking arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0305.MOV
Bows hanging
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0306.MOV
Archers getting ready
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0307.MOV
CU of arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0308.MOV
CU of arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0309.MOV
Archers betting between themselves, between rounds
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0310.MOV
Archer holding bow
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0311.MOV
Archers firing
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0312.MOV
Archers firing
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0313.MOV
Archers betting between themselves, between rounds
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0314.MOV
Archer staring at camera
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0315.MOV
Archers standing and firing at small target
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0316.MOV
Archers standing and firing at small target
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0317.MOV
Archers standing and firing at small target
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0318.MOV
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0319.MOV
Small target time lapse
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0320.MOV
Younger archers
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0321.MOV
Younger archers
Archer checking arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0322.MOV
Archers getting ready
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0323.MOV
Archers getting ready
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0324.MOV
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0325.MOV
Referee announces beginning, archers fire, round ends, people go towards target for counting
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0326.MOV
Pulling out arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0327.MOV
Pulling out arrows
Counting arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0328.MOV
Counting arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0329.MOV
Counting arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0330.MOV
Counting arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0331.MOV
Counting arrows
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0332.MOV
Audience reactions
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0334.MOV
Final result announced
Meghalaya/September 7th Shillong/Nikon/DSC_0335.MOV
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