Four regional language films from NE beg awards
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Four regional language films have brought laurels to the Northeast by winning the 66th National Film Awards which were announced in New Delhi on Friday. Bulbul Can Sing in the Assamese language by Rima Das, In the Land of Poison Women in Pangchenpa dialect by Manju Borah, Ma’ama in the Garo language by Dominic Sangma and Mishing in Sherdukpan dialect by Bobby Sarma Baruah have been named for the prestigious Rajat Kamal Awards.
Besides the trophy, both the director and the producer each will be given a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh. For Rima Das, the winning streak continues. Her film Village Rockstars last year won four awards, including the Swarna Kamal. Bulbul Can Sing had bagged a special award at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne on Thursday. The film narrates the story of Bulbul, a teenage schoolgirl, who grows up in a rural setting in Assam.
In the Land of Poison Women in Pangchenpa dialect by a renowned filmmaker from Assam Manju Borah is based in Arunachal Pradesh near the border of China-administered Tibet. The film deals with a blind belief in the Pangchenpa community that women have Poison in their nails and when they serve food to the males they die immediately or slowly. The film tries to show how modern educated generation is trying to eradicate this belief from their society.
Dominic Sangma’s debut feature film Ma’ama got the best Garo language film. This is the first national award for the Garo language. The story revolves around Philip Sangma who is searching for his dead wife, Anna.
Like In the Land of Poison Women Bobby Sarma Baruah’s Mishing is also based in Arunachal Pradesh. Mishing deals with the folklore among the Sherdukpen people. Both Governor Professor Jagadish Mukhi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal have congratulated all four filmmakers for winning such prestigious awards.