Mau: The Spirit Dreams of Cheraw
Director: Shilpika Bordoloi
Language: Mizo
Year: 2023
Duration: 9
Producer: Shilpika Bordoloi
Director Statement
Writers: Shilpika Bordoloi
Cinematographer Name: Sumedha Bhattacharyya
Editor Name: Sagarika Debnath
Producers: Shilpika Bordoloi
Key Cast: Mother/Spirit Performed by Shilpika Bordoloi, Cheraw dance: YMA Saitual Bazar Branch Cultural Troupe, Performers: Lalruattluanga | Lalnunsanga | David Lalthlamuana | Isaack Lalhlimawma | Lalrinmawi | C. Malsawmtluanga | C. Lalhmangaihzuava | Jeremy B. V anlalruata | Lalmuanawmi | Bedy Lalruatmawii | Vanlalruati | Vanlalthlamuanpuii | Lalduhzuali | K. Lalhriatchhungi | Hmigthantluangi | Lalkhawngaihzuali, Musicians : C. Lalbuatsaiha ( Khuang/Drummer) | Lalramdina ( Darbu) | Hmingthazuali ( Seki) | Lalhminghlua ( Troupe instructor)
Other Credits: Sound Design: Padmanābhan J, Additional Cinematography: Shilpika Bordoloi, Song by Tetea Vanchhawng, Research support and Dialogue by PC.Lalrindika, Voiceover by Lalramlawmi, Drone by K. Laltleipuia, Location Production Support by Ramtharmawia (Ramtea), Poster design : Ananyaa Maheshwari,
Screenings / Awards: IDSFFK, Kerala, August 2023
Chalachitram National Film Festival, Assam, September 2023 – Best Cinematography
Madras Independent Film Festival, September 2023 – Critics Award
4th Indian Documentary Film Festival of Bhubaneswar (IDFFB), September 2023
54th Indian Panorama IFFI Goa, November 2023
Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival, December 2024
Northeast International Documentary and Film Festival 2024: Best North East Special Award, Best Sound Design Award
ALT EFF (All Living Things Environment Film Festival) December 2023
Beyond Borders Feminist Film Festival, January 2024
4th International Kolkata Short Film Festival 2024
19th Asian Women’s Film Festival, January 2024
International Eco Performance Film Festival 2024: Eco Poetics Award
Manifest Dance Film Festival, Pondicherry 2024
Bangalore International Short Film Festival 2024
LA Dance for Camera 2025
Synopsis
Mau: The Spirit Dreams of Cheraw is a film from Mizoram, through Cheraw (Bamboo dance) and ritual folklore, revealing the forgotten memory of the story of the mother who dies at childbirth. The film shows a re-imagined dance of the mother spirit. Bamboo Dance was performed as a way to pacify the soul of the mother who died in childbirth. Bamboo is part of the geo-political history of Mizoram and the many other states in the North-east of India. Hence the loss of this intergenerational maternal memory is the crisis of culture, the climate of a place. This film is part of a series conceived by the Director, that will be looking at human and non-human relationships by inquiring the hidden stories, indigenous knowledge systems, maternal memories and displacement of this relationship.