Watch Cobra Gypsies

Cobra Gypsies is an awe-inspiring documentary movie directed and produced by Raphael Treza, which highlights the vanishing lifestyles of the Rajasthani Kalbeliya and Kacchwaha communities of India. The film takes the audience on an astonishing journey deep into the desert of Rajasthan, to explore the lives of a group of nomadic tribes, who have thrived there for centuries.

The movie begins with a captivating and visual shot of a cobra being teased by a man as a part of a bizarre street performance in Jodhpur city. The snake charmers are introduced to the audience, who are a group of people who take up the job to earn a living by catching and taming venomous snakes. The Kalbeliya gypsies, also known as 'black snakes,' are the mysterious people seen performing the dance with snakes, weaving fluidly to the rhythm of the music.

The audience then meets the community of the Kacchwaha tribe, who are famous for their ancient skill of horse training. Here we see horsemen who travel for many miles, searching for healthy horses to buy, sell and trade in the markets of Rajasthan. Treza captures the profound connection between the horse and the horsemen, and just how vital this bond is to the nomads' lives in the desert.

The film provides the audience with an insight into the way of life for these tribal people, allowing them to bear witness to the traditional customs and rituals of these communities that have been passed on from generation to generation. Cobra Gypsies show some of these amazing rituals, like celebrating Kabir Jayanthi in honor of Sant Kabir, a mystic poet, and saint who lived in the Indian subcontinent during the 15th century.

The movie is an excellent portrayal of the traditional Kalbeliya music and dance, which is a part of their everyday life. With their ecstatic rhythms of the been and the dholak, the women and men display the art of dance. The polyphonic songs are performed with such passion, and the instruments are played with an extraordinary energy that mesmerizes the audience. The Kalbeliya women, who wear handmade costumes with mirrors stitched into them, engage the crowd with their swaying movements and rhythmic clapping that echo through the dunes of the desert.

The Kacchwaha nomads give the audience a peek into the horse-riding and training practices of Rajasthan. One fantastic scene captures the breaking-in of a wild mare, using the leg tying method that is a signature of the desert people. The mare will have all four legs tied up, secured with ropes, and this will be the beginning of a process that takes weeks or sometimes months, as the animal learns to trust its human.

Like every community, these nomads too have their challenges, from the struggle to survive in the harsh desert to the battles they face from modern India's cultural and financial growth. The narration in the film explains that the nomads are being forced to give up their traditional way of life in exchange for schools, homes, and modern financial instruments. The audience witnesses how this cultural shift is making it difficult for the nomads to maintain their ancient practices and sustain their community.

Cobra Gypsies has a minimalist style with no flashy shots. Instead, it provides raw and candid coverage of the nomads' daily life in the desert. The film uses natural light instead of artificial lighting to capture each moment, indeed showing the deserts' natural beauty.

In conclusion, Cobra Gypsies is an enchanting and beautifully documented movie that takes the audience on a journey to the heart of the desert to capture the people and their unique way of life. The documentary portrays the cultures of the Kalbeliya and Kacchwaha people authentically and respectfully. The music, dance performances, and horse-riding stunts, along with the epic settings, provide a visual experience that is not just entertaining but also informative. The movie is a must-watch for anyone who is interested in understanding the diversity and beauty of Indian culture.

Cobra Gypsies is a 2019 documentary with a runtime of 52 hours.