Northeast cinema gains global recognition

This year, the India Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival brought actors, filmmakers, and industry experts from the northeastern states together on a global stage. Apart from this, a restored Manipuri film, Ishanhou, was selected to be screened in the festival’s Classics section. And while this likely means a bigger boost for the cinema and talent the northeast has to offer, we take a look at how they have been marking their presence – both in India and across the globe – so far.

‘BEING TYPECAST IS WHAT ACTORS FROM NORTHEAST FEAR’ Apart from actors like Danny Denzongpa, Adil Hussain and Seema Biswas, well-known actors from the region have been few. However, in recent years, from Arunachal Pradesh’s Chum Darang in Badhaai Do and Meghalaya’s Andrea Tariang in Pink to Nagaland’s Andrea Kevichusa in Anek – several actors have played major roles in mainstream films. Earlier Chum Darang told us that before Badhaai Do, she was also offered roles that stereotyped actors from the northeast. “I was offered roles like that of a spa employee, and I was scared that if I agreed to do them, I would be typecast. This is what actors from the northeast fear. ”

MAKING WAVES AT INT’L FILM FESTS IN 2022 ➤Rima Das’ Assamese film Tora’s Husband had its world premiere at the 47th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and the 27th Busan International Film Festival. Earlier, two of her films, Village Rockstars and Bulbul Can Sing were also screened at TIFF

➤ Aimee Baruah’s Dimasa-language movie Semkhor won many awards, including the Best Actress at Toronto International Women Film Festival and the Special Audience award at the 20th Dhaka International Film Festival (2022)

Last year, after director Jaicheng Zxai Dohutia’s Assamese film Baghjan was shortlisted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for Cannes’ Film Market, the director had told us, “I hope that this exposure will help the film to get funding for the next step. ” Earlier this year, the NFDC also organised a festival for northeastern films. Last year, the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) dedicated a special section for films from the region.
Northeast’s filmmakers have been making a mark at global film festivals for decades. While very few films have received a theatrical release, in recent years, due to OTT platforms, films such as Axone, Bulbul Can Sing, Aamis, Bornodi Bhotiai and Raag have become available to a wider audience.
Rima Das’ Village Rockstars premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). It received the Best Feature Film award at the 2018 National Film Awards. The film was also India’s official entry to the Oscars in 2018, but didn’t make it to the final shortlist.