| Mau: The Spirit Dreams of Cheraw | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Shilpika Bordoloi |
| Produced by | Shilpika Bordoloi |
| Starring | Shilpika Bordoloi |
| Music by | Padmanābhan J |
| Cinematography | Sumedha Bhattacharyya |
| Edited by | Sagarika Debnath |
Release date |
|
Running time | 52 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Mizo-language |
Mau: The Spirit Dreams of Cheraw is a 2023 Indian Mizo-language documentary film directed and produced by Shilpika Bordoloi.[1] The film explores the cultural and ritualistic history of the Cheraw dance of Mizoram, specifically its connection to maternal mortality and the ecological phenomenon of bamboo flowering.[2]
The film received the Best Debut Film of a Director (Non-Feature) at the 71st National Film Awards.[3][4] It was also selected for the Indian Panorama section at the 54th International Film Festival of India.[5]
Synopsis[edit | edit source]
The documentary uses an ethnographic approach to trace the origins of the Cheraw, popularly known as the "bamboo dance." While contemporary interpretations of the dance are celebratory, the film documents its traditional roots as a ritual performed to guide the soul of a mother who died during childbirth. The narrative parallels human grief with the life cycle of the Melocanna baccifera (locally known as Mau), a bamboo species in Mizoram that flowers once every 48 years and subsequently dies, a phenomenon known as Mautam.[5]
Awards[edit | edit source]
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 71st National Film Awards | Best Debut Film of a Director (Non-Feature) | Shilpika Bordoloi | Won |
| 2023 | Chalachitram National Film Festival | Best Cinematography | Sumedha Bhattacharyya | Won |
| 2024 | Northeast International Documentary and Film Festival | Best North East Special Award | Mau: The Spirit Dreams of Cheraw | Won |
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Mahanta, Puja (24 December 2023). "Celebrating the cinematic brilliance of Northeast: 8 award-winning films of 2023". India Today NE (in हिन्दी). Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ↑ Kumar, Anuj (28 August 2025). "Shilpika Bordoloi's short film is a tribute to Mizo Culture". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ↑ Datta, Sravasti (15 September 2025). "The bamboo whisperer". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ↑ "71st National Film Awards 2025 Winners List - National Film Awards". nationalfilmawards.in. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Rajkumar, Ankan (5 November 2023). "Mau: Dance and Trance in Mizoram". NorthEast Now. Retrieved 6 March 2026.