Here are seven other films from the region that speak for themselves and give voice to the region's unique character, which often goes unheard.
Digital Desk: Northeast - The unexplored region has a vibrant culture and an
impressive range of art that represents it. And the art and culture is
influenced by a cluster of incidents that it has endured over the years, from
armed conflicts to natural disasters and the continuous battle it wages against
entrenched prejudices.
Now, Northeast India has come back into limelight with the
release of Anubhav Sinha's film Anek, which takes a long hard look at insurgency in the
region. Here are seven other films from the region that speak for themselves
and give voice to the region's unique character, which often goes unheard.
Loktak Lairembee (2016)
The 2016 film Loktak Lairembee, directed by Haobam Paban Kumar, is based on the controversial Loktak lake Phumdi - a floating biomass clearance operation that the Manipur Government undertook in 2011. This resulted in the displacement of several indigenous fisherfolks whose lives depend solely on fishing activities in the lake.
It narrates the story of the fisherman Tomba, who is displaced
due to government enterprise. The film follows how he discovers a gun by
accident and how the incident changes him.
What is significant about Loktak
Lairembee is the lens
used to examine the relationship between the State and the indigenous
population, especially when development is used as the reason for displacement.
Village Rockstars (2017)
A one-woman enterprise, an independent filmamker Rima Das', Village
Rockstars is a marvel
and tribute to the 'lahe lahe or slow way of life in Assam, especially its
villages. The film is rooted in the daily rhythms of Das' native village of
Chhaygaon. The protagonist is 10-year-old Dhunu, who dreams of playing the
guitar when older, even as she clinches about life and school in the
flood-ravaged village.
The film is a rare gem in its portrayal of the devastation
caused by floods every year in Assam and how people still dare to dream amid
the annual calamity. The movie was also nominated for the prestigious 'Oscar'
awards.
Scratches on Stone (2017)
A documentary by Amit Mahanti, Scratches
on Stone, look at how the
State of Nagaland was formed. The title refers to scratches made on the stones
of the Longkhum village by early Nagas with their spears. Considered protective
totems by locals, the scratches stand testimony to the resilience and the long
history of resistance endured by the Nagas.
The documentary looks at the history of Nagaland's struggle
against the Indian State.
Nana: A Tale of Us (2017)
Nana: A Tale of Us is an award-winning Naga film by Tiakumzuk, the first-ever film
from Nagaland to make it to an International Film Festival. Made on a budget of
Rs 25 lakh, it centers around politics, family, and friendship. Through the
story of Nana and her family, the film highlights the need for fair elections
in the State.
Yarwng (2018)
A 95-minute feature film from Tripura, Yarwng, revolves around the large-scale displacement in the
State in the 1970s when the newly-built Dumbur dam submerged huge land areas in
the fertile Raima valley.
The film narrates a tale of romance between Karmati and Wakhiri,
who get separated on the eve of their marriage when the dam submerges the
entire village.
Orunasol Man (2018)
Drug smuggling and consumption among the youth remain pertinent
issues in various parts of Northeast India. In the superhero movie Orunasol
Man, writer and director
Nyago Ete looks at the rise in drug smuggling in Arunachal Pradesh. The Hindi
language film stars local actor Solomon Sangchoju.
The film is a unique portrayal of the local problems of the State and how humanity over super-humanity can solve them.
Aamis: The Ravening (2019)
Aamis, a masterpiece directed by Bhaskar Hazarika, is an
Assamese film that looks at the meat-eating practices of the region. It fuses the
appetite for meat with sexual appetite through the story of two lovers drawn to
each other but who do not cross the 'forbidden' line of sex.
The title itself means non-vegetarian and seeks to discover the
limits of both food and love. Nirmali and Sumon embark on a gastronomic journey
to find that out.
Even as the food habits of the Northeast either horrify,
disgust, or fascinate the rest of India, the movie turns the gaze inwards and
looks at the primary nature of both hunger and love.
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