Abstract

This paper presents an analytical study of the application of music in Pata Chitra of Bengal. A traditional scroll painting from eastern India - the Pata Chitra tradition is the important essence of intangible heritage and is an intrinsic part of conventional storytelling art forms. Though Pata Chitra refers to entire eastern India especially the Indian subcontinents of West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand, it is in the West Bengal where the painters of this folk art represent themselves more as storytellers using music to depict the story behind their paintings. Through centuries the Patuās in West Bengal is playing the role of painters, composers, and as well as singers and are engaging in this art form by amalgamating the three various mediums of art - painting, singing, and storytelling. Based on the previous works and critical observation, this paper explores the systematic and scientific study of the musical aspects of Pata or Patuā music and their thematic background along with a brief introduction of Pata Chitra of Bengal, the Patuā community, and their performative style. This paper has also sought to study how in this interactive art form of Pata Chitra, music plays a significant role to depict the stories of the Patuās in a more beautiful manner.