Illustrations for a Parallax Animation.

Kathak Aadi-Kathak is a feature-length documentary produced by the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute that delves into the etymology of the ‘Kathak’ dance form. The parallax animation serves as a prelude to the film, unfolding  the history of Kathak, tracing its roots since before the 16th century AD Mughal invasion to modern times.
 

This multidisciplinary project integrates dance, music, and visuals, making the narration quite dynamic. My role involved creating various backdrops that enhance the narrative, immersing viewers in the historical context. The sequence is presented as a parallax animation drawing inspiration from traditional story scrolls. 
For more information about the documentary, visit: Kathak Aadi-Kathak.

Technical prowess and coordination between dancers, cinematographers, editors and the illustrator was required for successful outcome of the project.  The sequence was filmed on a green screen with a camera dolly, designed to replicate the motion of a scroll. To achieve the desired effect, we divided the green screen footage into segments to track the dancers'  

 positions, which were then arranged frame by frame. From there, I began building a visual narrative  in tandem with their movements.  A significant amount of research was involved in scrolls referring to a period in history. On the right you can see an example of the kinds of reference points used in making the backdrop of  ‘Jaipur Durbar’.