Bazaar: Sawantwadi Wooden Toys
Cinematographer: Avijit Mukul Kishore
Duration: 00:46:00; Aspect Ratio: 1.333:1; Hue: 23.685; Saturation: 0.201; Lightness: 0.193; Volume: 0.127; Cuts per Minute: 2.478; Words per Minute: 31.476
Summary: Sawantwadi is a town at the border of Maharashtra and Goa. We chanced upon a small market of wooden toys while traveling on the Bombay-Goa Express Highway. The town is known for its craft industry of small wooden objects. The popular motifs are various fruits, vegetables, birds and vehicles - bullock cart, cycle, train, fire brigade van, truck, police jeep etc. The design of the fruits and vegetables are reflective of the local culture. Since it is a farmers’ belt, the wooden objects are actually a kind of abstraction of the main occupation of the region. Other than children’s games and home decoration, the vegetables and fruits are also used in local weddings as symbol of prosperity and fertility. Though there are a few factories who also produced larger objects such as swings, horses for children to ride on, chairs, food plates, bowls etc., most part of this industry is home based. Generally one entire family is involved with the whole circle of curving out the models in wood, scraping and drying them, colouring them, compiling sets and making the display in the shop, handling local customers and agents for export to other cities. The entire process takes place at the modest homes and handled by the family members. The sleeping area doubles up for indoor works such as storage space, compilation works; the verandah doubles up for the shop, workshop for scraping and colouring and also as children’s study and the social space to meet neighbours; the courtyard behind the house is where the workshop to make the objects would be and the lane in front of the house is used for drying the objects. It is a smooth flow between public and private spaces and personal, social and professional interactions. The toys are colourful, suitably abstract and durable. While the Indian market gets swept by the cheap Chinese plastic toys and expensive US made Barbies, Kens and their trivias, the Indian artisans in various corners of the country still try to survive on their modest and old fashioned wares. Is it really all that difficult to re-invent these crafts? Or is it that we prefer a part of our culture to remain static and thus exotic, only to be found at an obscure junction on the highway? We spent a few hours in a morning with one such family. This family is Kanada speaking, which is the language of the other neighbouring state Karnataka. Though they are well versed with the pre-dominant language of the region, Konkani and Marathi and conducts business in those languages too. The people in the other shops in that lane spoke in Marathi. Obviously in this area, like most parts of India, there is a lot of crisscrossing of different languages.
Shot by Avijit Mukul Kishore
Wide shots of a roadside shop with display of colourful wooden objects hanging in foreground. The man of the house sitting in the shop, the young son in school uniform and bag leaves home and the woman emerges from inside the house with a tray full of models to be dried in the sunlight at the outside road.
An usual late morning scenario for an artisan family in their home cum work space. Various noisy vehicles such as tempo, auto rickshaws register their off frame presence.
Sawantwadi, Goa
artisans
colourful
display
family
fruits
homebased trade
models
neighbourhood
objects
personal
public
shop
small town
space division
sunlight
traders
vegetables
wooden toys
Sawantwadi, Goa
Wide shot of the shop. The woman goes back and forth with the trays of object models to be dried. Meanwhile her teenage son tries to comfort her crying infant daughter.
artisans
bright
children
colour
display
drying
female labour
house
infant
motherhood
multi-tusking
private space
public
shop
space
sunlight
traders
tray
worker
Long shot from opposite angle, from inside the shop. The man is colouring some objects. The son takes the trays out on the street from the dark shadow to the scorching sun. There is rhythm, play of shadow and sunlight, and a continuous transition between public and private space.
artisan
brush
colour
display
dwelling
family
house
object
paint
private space
public space
shop
street
sunlight
Mid shot of the man putting the primary colour coat to a bunch of apples.
Our friend from Bangalore, Veena chats with him in his native language, Kanada. A tried out ploy to put people at ease.
Q: Since how many years have you been doing this?
A: Many years. Since my father, grand father's …. we all do it.
Q: Have your children learned this?
A: Yes. Wife, children… we all do this work.We make wood model, fill them and then we join it with sticking glue…
apples
artisan
colour
home
interview
kanada
language
native language
trade
trader
worker
workplace
Mid shot of the man putting the primary colour coat to a bunch of apples.
Our friend from Bangalore, Veena chats with him in his native language. Though very accommodative towards us, the intruding visitors from the city, he never stops his work while talking. The social and professional are one.
Q: How exactly it is done?
A: I will show you… cutting the wood, filing it.. all these I do. Then finishing… then there are other works that other family members do – like filling it, putting the glue, putting paints and then beating it 5 times – that I do. Polishing with polish papers – my wife does.
Q: What about the children?
A: They too. They do other things like talking to customers, buying things.
Q: Where is your home?
A: This only.
Q: You own it?
A: Yes.
Q: What is your average daily earning?
A: Can't say. See, sometimes we have to prepare 300 items in 6 hours. If the whole family joins in then only we can prepare 200 or 300… so…
apples
artisan
children
colour
conversation
craft
cutting
earning
family
filing
home
interview
legacy
livelihood
polishing
process
professional
skill
social
trade
trader
wage
wood
worker
workspace
Mid shot of the man putting the primary colour coat to a bunch of apples.
He continues to talk to us, instructing his son and painting the apples. Camera zooms out to include the son and the sunlit road outside. Camera zooms in to a close up. Slowly the busy artisan transforms into a proud artist.
Q: Do we make the products on order?
A: No, no. We have to keep the product ready, the customers can come at any time. Even 1AM.
Q : So you are open at all hours?
A : Yes. I will show you how we make it.
Q : So how do you like your work?
A : My job is better than that of a service person. In service you put your palm out for payment once a month.
A: Here I get paid everythime a customer walks in. 24 hours your product gets sold, then I get excited about making some more. Q : Do you feel what you do is an art? A : It's our ancestor's art so we shouldn't ruin it. My father got the State award.
apples
art
artisan
autonomy
award
business
colouring
craft
family
father
fruits
hours
incentive
objects
painting
recognition
service
shop
skill
son
trade
workplace
A : Even I have received one. Q: Maharashtra? A: Yeah. Maharashtra Q: Which award? A : Silver. My dad received silver, I received 1000 Rupees cash. Q : So what all do you make? A : Everything. Q : Toys also? A: Yes everything. I would show you but there's no electricity. Q: You make fruits? A : Ya and toys. Q: You make wooden toys no? A: Ya wooden also. Show them(Directs his son) Q: Where do you make these? A : In Pehlgaon
He talks in close up – the worker, the artisan, the petty trader and the father, the teacher. Camera zooms out to include the son and the sunlit road outside.
artisan
award
electricity
father
interviewee
maharashtra
manager
road
silver
sunlit
teacher
toys
trader
wood
worker
Long shot of the shop and the father-son duo. They show sample to Veena who is off frame.
Q: Where are these made? A: Right here. The craftsman make it. Our craftsman only. Q: In the factory? A: Ya.This type. Q: Do you paint them here? A: No, that's done on the machine only. The Lathe machine.
artisan
craft
craftsman
factory
family
father
fruits
lathe
legacy
machine
model
paint
shop
son
A: That's the stove and that's the pan(smiles) Q: Show that- the grinder. A: Give it(directs son) Q : (looking at the stove she has asked for) This is where the fire burns? A : Ya. Q: How many in your family are involved in this trade? A : 4 of us. My woman, son, my brother and his wife too. Q: You said it's ancestral trade no, aren't all your brothers also involved? A: No, one of them does, but the other is in service.
Long shot. The son shows more sample to Veena who still trying to chat them up. The man politely answers her, but also maintains the pace of work in hand.
apples
artisan
burner
chat
family
father
fruits
hand
interview
interviewee
legacy
shop
son
stove
wife
work
workplace
Long shot. The man talks about his work pattern. Camera zooms in to close up. Sometimes his eyes lit up while talking about the process.
Q: So when do you work? A: Its continuous. Here's no such thing as rest. Q: But which is a good season? A: Christmas is good, May too. Also Diwali, then Chowthi(local festival) During Chowthi, newly weds have to be given 27 items like these.
business
festival
pattern
process
season
sell
sunlight
trade
work
Close shot of the man. The sunlight glows on his forehead.
Q: Of mud? A: No wooden. Of Hanval Tree. Q: So its become a custom? A : Yes. And tourists also come. Q: What about the newlyweds? A: When they hang the Ganesha (the elephant god) in their houses..and the newly weds have to be given this.
artisan
blessing
customer
ganesha
hanval tree
home
newly wed
omen
sunlight
tourist
Close shot of the man. Still working and talking – a streak of home based work. Something that generally women are very accustomed to do.
Q: Have your children learnt the craft? A : A little..they go to school. (directs son – give me polish paper here.) Q : So do you feel what you practise is art? A: Yes. We go to exhibitions ...Surajkund, Delhi… Jaipur. They invite us there. The Central Government does. Q: So do you do this out of passion? A: Yes. It's our ancestor's craft/art so we have to keep it alive. It should not be forgotten. It's like that. Q: So who are your buyers? A: Mainly tourists and outsiders also. Q : You mean like us? A : And also exporters who buy from us and then export them. Q: Just single buyers or..A: No lots of them come. Q: They mostly buy and trade in it elsewhere? A: Ya and we manufacture ourselves.
ancestor
art
artisan
buyer
chat
craft
exhibition
export
government
home based
inheritance
legacy
manufacture
men
multi-tusking
pace
paper
polish
recognistion
trade
wholesale
women
work
Camera zooms out to wide shot. Somebody passes him some object off frame.
Q: Do you make them in the same style as your grandfather? A: The styles have changed. They made with hands. We can also make with our hands. Like they would make with hands and paint with hands. While we make with hands and spray paint. Even now, if there's no power or someone requests handmade we can also make it entirely with our hands. We don't need machines. Q: The shapes also you make with machines? A: No, that it cant do. We can make any shape requested. Like the Leg. For God, Legs or Hands. They need it urgently so where will you go. Then we make it. Q : Oh this is wooden? Hanval wood? A: Yes. Totally handwork. No machine or anything.
art
artisan
craft
craftsman
god
hand made
hanval tree
legacy
limbs
machine
paint
skill
tamarind
wood
wooden objects
Camera moves to opposite angle. Two shot of the man and woman. He puts primary colour coat on the apples and sets them aside for drying. She scrapes some apples. Veena starts talking to the woman
Q: So when did you started working on this? W: After I came to this house post marriage. Q: Your family was not in this? W: No..we were into agarbattis (scent sticks) Off cam instructions to the woman – Don't look this side. Q(to the man): You must be used to this? A(woman) : Ya lots of people come like this. Q: So when do you cook and work here? A: Both I do simultaneously. Q: You mean something is cooking on the stove while you work here? W(smiles) Yes.
apples
artisan
coat
colour
cooking
craft
domestic
family
female labour
home
labour
man
multi-tusking
partnership
scrape
shop
skill
stove
trade
visitor
woman
wooden fruits
Close shot of the woman working. Sound of scraping. Veena tries to make a conversation with her. Close shot of the man's hand colouring
Q: How many kids do you have? A: 3, These 2 and one of them is in Karnataka. Q: Where? A: Sagar. Q: Your matrimonial home? A : Yes.
Sagar, Karnataka
apples
artisan
assistance
children
craft
female worker
hand
home
matrimonial
scrape
skill
Close shot of the woman's hand – scraping.
apple
artisan
craft
partnership
scrape
skill
woman labour
Close up of the woman.
woman artisan
woman worker
Camera on the man's hand – fixing sticks on tamarind,
models
artisan
craft
fruits
model
object
skill
stick
tamarind
vegetables
wooden fruits
-I would have taken it with me now
Should I send it? Or should I bring it myself?
C-is your shop open tomorrow?
A:Yes
C: It's open, no?
A: Yes, please wait two minutes….
C: when we return to Bombay, we will stop by here.
A: Ok, I'll tie it and keep it ready, I'll pack - -
C: How long will it take? Money?
A: Give me Rs 330, I'm not over-quoting.(breaks into a smile)
What's the 30 rupees for?(laughing)
You can come whenever..
C: please pack It and keep it…
A: Yes, yes
C: or we'll miss our bus
A: No, no…I'll pack it and keep it now itself.
(to the other customer who is waiting) –I 'll give it to you…., just please wait for a bit. What all did you require...chickoo, etc, correct? I'll give it to you, one minute…
Low angle shot with wooden tamarinds in the foreground – the man painting primer on the tamarind models. He talks to some customers out of the frame, in Marathi.
Bombay
brush
business
business relation
chickoo
chikoo
colour
craft
customer
language
marathi
merchandise
object
packing
paint
price
primer
sell
shop
tamarind
wooden
A: Here you go,
-and pomegranate…
A: You wanted Sapodilla fruit (chikoo) right?
Male customer outside frame (MC)-show me…
A: Yes, I'll show you, give me a minute
(Handing over the box he's been packing), here you go…
male customer's friend adds(MCF) –take some pomegranate too…
MC-Give me two dozen pomegranates
MCF-take some custard apple too….
MC-custard apple??
A: Custard apple is Rs.20 for one and pomegranate is rs.20 too.
MC-is that so?
A: Yes…
-cashews (kaju)?
A: That's Rs 12.
MCF-but you'll give it to me for Rs. 8, right? Since I need about 2 dozens.
- No, it's not like that ask anywhere…
MC-well, I don't think I need the pomegranates then.
And the chickoo?(hands it to him)
A: That will cost you Rs 10
MCF-No, we don't want chickoo
A: Should I give you sweet limes? bananas?
MCF- No we don't want sweet limes
A: Its Rs 10 on an average.
Banana will cost you rs10,single
(in the meantime camera shifts to include the author of the voice)
MCF-So till now, cashews-2 dozen, mangoes-2dozen.
A: Kokum?
MCF-no, no no kokum….well, show show, let's see the kokum….
Camera outside the shop with the hanging objects in display in the forground. The man attends to the customer. Handheld camera freely captures the atmosphere. The son help the father. Some customer with big mustache looks pretty stern – such seriousness in buying wooden toys! Obviously we are missing a cultural point here.
banana
bargain
business
buying
cashew
chikoo
craft
cultural
customer
deal
display
dozen
family
fruits
handheld
hanging
kokum
lane
marathi
merchandise
mustache
object
objects
pomegranate
price
ritual
sell
shopping
stern
sweet lime
toy
wooden
wooden toys
By now the whole family: the man, the woman, two sons and another woman are at the door of the shop attending to the customers. It is a group of people making purchase for a wedding. Obviously it is big business for the family. Camera moves freely around the customers, the family, the display and the public road.
(shows it to him)...
MCF-Ok, give me 2 dozen….
A: Give him 2 dozen kokum….
Lady customer-how much for the coconuts?
Small boy in school uniform- the coconuts are for Rs. 50... should I pack them?
How much for two bananas?
A: No rates for two, just for a single banana.
MCF- atleast show me one….
Hands him the banana packed in plastic
MCF-how much is this?
A: Its 12 rupees, 10 for you.
MCF- Oh, is this a banana or what?
This is just grown over here, (points as though behind the shop)…put a more reasonable rate….
A: It's a rasvala(local banana variety)
MCF- Yes, I know its rasvala,thats why I'm saying reduce the rates(haggling but in a friendly manner)
A: No….not less
MC- These are not madrasi bananas(referring to velankenese (high quality) variety)they are local (gavthi)
A: No, no, no compromise in the bananas.
MCF-(relents) ok, give me 2 dozen of these too. How many are those? In the box?
A: There are enough…
banana
bargain
business
customer
display
exchange
family
fertility
interaction
local
neighbours
price
prosperity
public space
purchase
school
sell
shop
shopping
son
street
trade
uniform
wedding
wooden toys
Handheld free shot of the shop on the road. The purchase goes on, the youngsters in the watch the proceeding.
(ambient)
A: Should I give you sweet-limes?
MCF-no. Cashews?
A:12 rupees.
(People coming and going, asking rates)
business
cashew
craft
customer
display
family
fruits
handheld
lane
lime
merchandise
neighbourhood
object
price
rate
road
sell
shop
toys
vegetable
wooden
youngsters
Camera explores the display pattern
abstraction
baskets
cane
colour
display
glow
hanging
light
objects
paint
pattern
shop
vegetable
wooden fruits
Camera on another woman fixing the displays. The reflection of images from the street come and go.
aesthetics
baskets
colour
customer
display
handheld
hanging
lane
merchandise
objects
reflection
routine
shop
street
visual
wooden fruits
Long shot of the road with the shop at the left edge. Ambience sound.
ambience
colour
display
edge
market
merchandise
neighbourhood
rhythm
routine
shop
slow pace
street
traffic
Long shot of the bazaar, other similar shops can be seen, tempo delivers packing carton to some shop. Late morning neighbourhood.
bazaar
colour
display
engine sound
late morning
market
merchandise
shop
small town
tempo
wooden toys
Long shot of the neighbourhood lane, Noisy vehicle, some random passerby. A medium pace town.
bazaar
engine sound
late morning
market
pace
shop
tempo
wooden toys
Close up of the display baskets – custard apples, apples, chikoos, bananas, pomegranates, water melons, guavas, mangos and some other abstract fruits
abstraction
apples
chikoos
colour
craft
display
glow
guavas
mangoes
merchandise
object
pomegranates
sell
shop
straw basket
water melons
The boy reads Marathi newspaper under a pair of hanging pomegranates. A big deal is struck. It is relaxing time.
boy
deal
hanging
marathi
newspaper
pace
pomegranates
read
A basketful of tiny little colourful birds- a hand pours out the wooden birds on the ground, checks them. Outside the real birds make a racket chirruping loudly.
basket
birds
chirruping
colourful
fake
hand
miniature
real
spread
tiny
toys
wooden
A hand collects the spread out birds and collect them back in a basket.
basket
birds
chirruping
collect
colour
fake
hand
miniature
real
tiny
Another shop. Display of toy houses: colourful tiles on the roof, a coconut tree in the courtyard and then bright lights lit the interior. A dream house.
bulbs
coconut tree
colourful
cottage
courtyard
craft
display
dream house
house
interior
lit
local
miniature
roof
shop
tiles
toy
Heavy train traffic in Sawantwadi !!
Dumper truck, train, bulldozer, small car try to create a replica of urban life. While the real life leave their reflections in the frame.
Paton tank, bullock cart, merry-go-round, horse, horse carriage – all move and all are toys. Epic and daily news, fantasy and aspiration roll into one form – wooden toys!
Evening is setting in. The sunlit bylane is now soaked in the softness of evening magic hour. In the shop naked bulbs hang in the foreground. Light reflects on the shine of the coloured fruits. End of an ordinary day in the life of an ordinary artisan family who has thrown some extra ordinary visual and cultural motifs towards us.
House
artisan
bylane
chore
colour
craft
cultural
display
evening
family
fruits
light
magic hour
motif
reflection
toy
visual
wooden
- yes, yes, I am opening it. You come on Monday then we will see…
- Ya, We shall come, meet you, talk to you, spend some time….
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