synopsis
In the remote hills of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh, Manle, a master craftsman of the ‘Plung’, an ancient bamboo flute, faces a profound spiritual and personal challenge. His young child has fallen ill, and in the Mru tradition, only the gods can restore health through the ritual of ‘Chiasodpoi’—a ceremonial dance and sacrificial offering.
The documentary unfolds as Manle prepares his community for the festival, crafting the sacred ‘Plung’, and orchestrating intricate rituals that intertwine music and spirituality. Performers from neighboring villages gather to engage in extraordinary orchestral battles, using the ‘Plung’ to communicate with divine forces.
‘Mrucha Chiasodpoi’ is a story of resilience, faith, and identity, where music becomes a bridge between the human and the divine. Through Manle’s journey, the film reveals the profound cultural heritage of the Mru people, offering a rare glimpse into a world where ancient traditions and modern struggles collide. It is a poignant exploration of a father’s love, a community’s devotion, and the endangered legacy of an indigenous people.
Director's statement
In January 2023, I first visited the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh and came across an indigenous bamboo flute called the ‘Plung’. Traditionally played by the Mru people, it has a daunting, almost surreal tonality. Upon joining our Mru friends on a 6-hour journey through the dark, we reached the reserve forest, where members of a Mru community were organizing a sacrificial festival, “Chiasodpoi.” What followed was an entire night of surreal orchestral battles with the plung, culminating to a sacrifice of a cow in the morning.
At the time, I understood little about the roots of this tradition. However, what I observed was unlike anything else I have ever seen. With almost child-like curiosity, we started shooting what was the beginning of the film ‘Mrucha Chiasodpoi’ (Mru Festival of Sacrifice). We began shooting with our phones because we had nothing else at the time. At a place where electricity was inaccessible, we could only charge our phones with solar power.
Upon editing the mobile version of this festival, I realised the ritualistic and spiritual complexities of this sacrifice. Months later, when I got a call that Manle must make a sacrifice for his child, I began documenting the ritual processes in detail. Keeping in mind the historical and ethnographic significance of the documentation of this ritual, I started filming, much of it in the indigenous Mru language. It eventually took two years to finish the film.
– Mashrukur Rahman Khan