LIFE OF AN ARTIST: CHAPTER I

People call me a passion. I call myself artist.

Name: Sultan Baig

Age: Can't recall the precise figure

Currently exhibition at: Ahmedabad Haat, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Working since: Class VIII, around 22 years

Type: Family Business

Place of birrth: Udaigiri (Mysore, Karnataka, India)

Master of: Woodwork

Ever since I can remember, I have watched my father caress small but sharp pieces of wood with a loving smile. 

Like a mother feeds, plays & teaches its child. My father used to cut wood, paint wood, create wood out of wood.

I inherited this love for wood from him.

A lot many things I wanted to say to the interviewer, but they asked the limited. 

How many exhibits I have done? Difficulties I have faced in business? etc etc

How could I face difficulties when I do the things I travel so far for even if I do not have the money to return home.

How could I face difficulties in creating unique pieces of wood art even if people do not purchase it.

Life is good.

To what they asked me:

Yes, I have done 185 individual exhibitions of my work. Business is not a guarantee in each of them.

Like here, in Ahmedabad, it has been 3 days & I have not earned even 1000/- Rs.

I have no money to go back home & that is why I am waiting here every day for someone to stop & buy instead of

stop & inquire indifferently.

What I can say is I am satisfied. I provide employment to 3 more like me, someone who loves his work, but never learned how to sell them.

It takes around two & half hours to make 1 small piece of art. The instrument I use to cut & polish wood is a

sharp string tied to a C shaped wood. I feel like Amitabh Bachhan of movie Coolie.

I too give my blood & sweat to create what others give Rs 100/- for.

I am currently making a temple, a mode of devotion. People worship gods. I worship work.

(Written by the interviewer from what he heard & saw in 2 rounds of interview)

Price of his current work:

Woodowl big size - Rs 190/-

Woodowl small size - Rs 140/-

A joint of woodowl big size - Rs 350/-

A joint of woodowl small size - Rs 275/-

Idol of Ganesha & Krishna - Rs 375/-

A rural house - Rs 200/-

A snake - Rs 75/-

Keychain - Rs 20/-

Round Container Small - Rs 20/-

Round Container Big - Rs 30/-

Keyholder - Ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 300/- (depending on piece to piece)

Penstand - Rs 100/-

From the interviewer:

The artist is a regular worker of Belapur, 200 kilometers from Ahmedabad, near Mumbai (Maharashtra, India)

He loves the place where artist like him gather a market on the roads & exhibit the colourful wonders of life.

Business may or may not happen, but a round of laughter is guaranteed amongst themselves.

If art is not the soul of life, then I don't know what is...

Did You Know ?

10 things you did'nt know about Children's day

The world celebrates their children on 20th of November but India wishes its children a happy children's day on 14th of November

On an average, a 4 year old child asks 437 questions a day. . . (or more)

A 3 year old boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a gathering! ! !

His love for innocent young hearts is well known but Pandit Nehru was said to be India's special child on his becoming the first prime minister after independence.

We promised our children all the care & love in the world. But not every child gets the freedom to enjoy childhood.

Celebrating children's day universally was suggested by an Indian,
V.K. Krishna Menon & later was adopted by UN General Assembly

For children, Watching television alone can act as a painkiller. . .

grown ups bitch & smile, Children play & laugh

I brought children into this dark world because it needed the light that only a child can bring
-unknown author

The dirtier they are, happier they are

So Lets become a child once again, 

laugh without a reason, 

play without a care

& most of all

have lots of happiness to share

Watch Chotu Chaiwala at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkVtKFucX4c&feature=share

:)

Chotu Chaiwala (A short film) by Akshat Drama Group

Chotu Chaiwala goes on air

Chotu Chaiwala is a story which ventures deep into education & human perspective. The country promises each & every citizen to provide education as the most basic right, a fundamental right. A right which a child has since birth, which he can claim, but the question is, from whom?

A small child who has a dream, of books, of papers, of education finds a piece of paper thrown away by kids playing, the nurtured ones. He finds it, treasures it, feels connected to his dreams but again loses it to reality. Nevertheless, he does not lose hope.

Life is all about being happy. He was happy in whatever he got, be it a simple piece of paper. It all depends on perspective. How one thinks of an object.

Hope is beautiful

VISION OF THE DIRECTOR -

What may be a piece of paper to one can sometimes become a source of hope to another. This is our very first visual production completed in 4 days of a life altering experience because we found our calling on the sets.

WHY WE DID THIS

This movie raised our sympathy to those kids. There are many of us not even bothering to look at them with anything other than scorn or worse, indifference. If this movie makes one mind aware, then it’s worth it.

Awareness raises sympathy & out of 100 such people, one of them will do something more. That, is our goal

Right to Dream vs Right to make it Real

CHOTU CHAIWALA 

SYNOPSIS

Chotu Chaiwala is a story which ventures deep into education & human perspective. The country promises each & every citizen to provide education as the most basic right, a fundamental right. A right which a child has since birth, which he can claim, but the question is, from whom?

A small child who has a dream, of books, of papers, of education finds a piece of paper thrown away by kids playing, the nurtured ones. He finds it, treasures it, feels connected to his dreams but again loses it to reality. Nevertheless, he does not lose hope.

Life is all about being happy. He was happy in whatever he got, be it a simple piece of paper. It all depends on perspective. How one thinks of an object.

Hope is beautiful

WHY WE DID THIS

This movie raised our sympathy to those kids. There are many of us not even bothering to look at them with anything other than scorn or worse, indifference. If this movie makes one mind aware, then it’s worth it.

Awareness raises sympathy & out of 100 such people, one of them will do something more. That, is our goal

Chotu Chaiwala (a short movie) campaign