Pattachitra is a traditional folk art of visual storytelling by songs and is a unique art from of Rural Bengal that dates back to the period of Mohenjo-Daro Civilization. The Patuas (the Pattachitra artist) not only paints with perfection, but also sings and presents his or her art to their audience. Bengal Pattachitra is world’s first attempt to create motion pictures.
The word ‘Pata’ originates from the Sanskrit word ‘Patta’, meaning cloth and ‘Chitra’ meaning painting. In Patachitra, stories are painted as frames on long scrolls and the Patuas who paint Patas, travel from village to village gradually unrolling them and presenting the story through their songs. The songs are known as Pater Gaan, which is passed down to next generations.
Patachitra is known for its bold colours, lines and strokes using the natural colours derived from local sources like fruits and flowers. The source of white colour is KHORIMATI, black colour is BHUSHOKALI, blue colour is DELA NIL, purple colour is PUI METULI, green colour is SIMPATA, yellow is PALASH FLOWER and TURMERIC, orange is KAMALA PATHAR, red is PHANIMANASHAR FRUIT, pink is BOTER KURI. They prepare adhesive using woodapple.
The Patuas paint and sing on various themes like mythological tales (Ramayana, Mahabharata, Mangalkabya), historical and contemporary themes (biographies of personalities) and social issues (women empowerment, child right, literacy).
The Patachitra tradition practiced in Purulia, Medinipur, Bankura, Murshidabad are distinctive on their style, compositions, background decoration and themes.