Karbi Community’s Legacy Preserved Through Animation: Krishnabh’s Film 'Kasang Alun' Featured on the 9th Day of Tribal Futures Fest
Krishnabh Thengal, an alumnus of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, is an illustrator and animation filmmaker based in Guwahati. His animated film, Kasang Alun, is inspired by the local folklore of Assam's Karbi community. He took part in the 9th day of the Tribal Future Fest, with the session moderated by Shweta Guria, a Cinematography student from SRFTI Kolkata.
Staff Editor 
During the 30-minute presentation, Krishnabh showcased his animated film, Kasang Alun, which is based on the Karbi community’s folklore about Sita and Ram.
The film begins in a Karbi household, where an elderly woman named Kasang, the story's protagonist, is going about her daily chores while singing Sabin Alun, a local folk version of the Ramayana. Her granddaughter, intrigued by the song, asks Kasang to tell the story to her and her cousins. Kasang, delighted to have an audience, begins narrating the epic to the children. As she continues, more of the grandchildren gather around, captivated by her storytelling. However, not all of them are able to maintain their focus, and one child soon wanders off. The film then poses the question: will the remaining children stay engaged until the end of Kasang’s tale, or will her story and song be left unfinished? The narrative explores the challenges of keeping ancient traditions alive in a fast-paced world and the delicate balance between preserving cultural heritage and adapting to changing times.
Image: Storyteller Mrs Kasang Teronpi, last member from Karbi Community who knows this folklore
After the screening of the film Krishnabh Thengal shared insights into his collaborative process with the Karbi community's knowledge keepers. Krishnabh shared his experience with Mrs. Kasang Teronpi, the last member of the Karbi community who knows this folklore, and expressed his deep gratitude to her for narrating the story for him. He vividly described how they meticulously transformed age-old stories into visually stunning animations while staying true to their cultural essence. The challenges faced during this creative journey and the innovative solutions employed to maintain authenticity were also highlighted.
The session concluded with a lively Q&A, where participants engaged in interesting discussions on the role of animation in cultural preservation, the unique characteristics of Karbi storytelling, and the broader impact of these projects.
Image: Krishnabh Thengal during his talk with audience at Tribal Future Fest.
Preserving folklore through animation creatively brings traditional stories to life, making them accessible to modern audiences. By blending imagination with cultural authenticity, animation revitalizes these narratives, ensuring they resonate with younger generations. This method not only safeguards cultural heritage but also reimagines it, keeping the stories alive and relevant for future generations.
Tribal Future Fest is a month-long celebration of contemporary tribal creativity. Over the next 20 days, many talented and inspiring members from various Indian tribes will showcase and share their work.This fest is an initiative by Tribal Design Forum, India’s only community of multidisciplinary designers and creative professionals.
