Rocking at the Global Level

Rima Das is an acclaimed filmmaker from Assam who is best known for her film,Village Rockstar, which has won several national and international awards. Village Rockstar was also India’s official entry to the 90^th Academy Award in the best foreign language film category.

The film won India's National Award for Best Film and Best Editor. Rima Das was named as one of the 50 most influential young Indians of 2018 by GQ India. She was also conferred with a doctorate degree at the 3^rd Convocation of Krishna KantaHandique State Open University (KKHSOU) in February 2018. Excerpts from an interview:

How would like to introduce yourself to our readers. Can you tell us more about your family and your education.

I studied in my village, Chaygaon in Assam. My father was the headmaster of Chaygaon Champak Nagar Girls High School and my mother runs our family business of a book store and a printing press. I grew up as a village girl. I am fortunate. I have two younger brothers. I did my graduation from Cotton College.

How did your firstfilm happen. Can you tell us more about your first experience

From a very young age, I was in love with acting. During my school and college days, I used to do acting. After completing my education, I went to Mumbai to pursue my career in acting. At that time, I did not think that I would be making films someday. When I started watching movies from different parts of the world, then the feeling came to me that I too can make a film. My first film Pratha, was a short film which I made in my village in 2009. For my film, I used non actors. I also do not remember exactly why I took non-actors for my film. I was very new and I had not thought about it. This thought never crossed my mind that to make my film I need professional actors. My journey started that way. The theme of my first film,Pratha was about a teen girl, whose life changes after attaining puberty. Technically I did not know about filmmaking, although I did want to portray the storytelling when I made my first cinema. My aim was that I had to tell a story, and for that I watched a lot of movies. I started watching short films from 2007 and then started making short films with a camera I bought for myself and then started working independently. I learned filmmaking by watching cinema and shooting with my own camera. I did not take any professional course.

Who was your biggest inspiration behind choosing to make films?

The storytelling part and the freedom to create anything you want, a kind of world you want, to see and to create, this was something inside me. I wanted to express the past, present and future through my imagination and the combination of seven arts. It was very fascinating for me. In our life we want to create some relationships or do some work, which we cannot do on time, but through movies you can live those moments and create and contribute emotionally. I thought that cinema was a very strong visual medium through which I can contribute in my own way and also, I myself can live those moments again through my characters, through nature and all the elements in the universe. The inspiration came from within. When I was trying to build my career in acting, I felt I was not giving my 100 percent, but when I started film making it did not allow me to sleep. All the time I used to think about my story, my character. So, I realised that it was my true calling.

Can you tell us about your most memorable work,and why is it memorable?

My most memorable work is Village Rockstar because it starts from my life, it was something positive which happened to me. Being in Mumbai and stepping into an unknown world,Village Rockstar was a pure journey, a journey into myself quite deep into nature, people and what life is all about. I learned a lot of things from Village Rockstar. And also, being with the children especially was a very pure experience, the power of innocence, how they celebrate life in deprivation, how not having much or asking for much, yet they can celebrate life. And the happiness of being in the nature, to livein the moment. A lot of things I learned from Village Rockstar and that is still helping me. And after achieving success or wherever the film has reached out to, I have reach through the film. Whatever t I am doing now, I learned during the time of Village Rockstar. Presently I am based in Mumbai, I do keep travelling to Assam.

You are a writer, producer, director and editor. How do you manage the different roles.

When I was shooting Village Rockstar there was no one to help me except my cousin. I did everything from cinematography to art, production, costume and it was for me the whole filmschool. Also when I watched the movie I look at it as whole -- like a painting. I did not divide it technically into different sections like the parts which will be done by the art department, by a cinematographer, makeup artist for thecharacters,,,.it was more like a holistic approach. I never went to a filmschool to learn direction or went to learn cinematography. So. I looked at it as a whole.

Your film Tora’s Husband was shot during the pandemic lockdown. What challenges did you face while shooting the film?

I had to face a lot of challenges. It was challenging especially because everyone’s state of mind was different. It was not only about being safe myself but also about keeping other people safe. And being the producer and the director, I had the responsibility to keep everyone safe. I had to keep in mind that because of me nobody should be put into any kind of difficulty. And when the lockdown started, I had to pause my shoot. Again, when it was lifted, I resumed shooting. It was very challenging to handle the mindset of the people during the shoot of Tora’s Husband.

Your film Village Rockstar won several awards and was also India’s official entry at the 90^th Oscars Awards and was also the first Assamese film to be selected for this honour. Can you tell us more about it and how was the experience?

The experience was great. Village Rockstar was more like a film school for me. I worked for that film for almost three years and 150 days. Although I was working keeping in mind my ambition, I never imagined that the cinema will travel to so many festivals and will receive so much love from the audience. From winning the National Award to going for the Oscars, it was a great honour for us. It was nice. Many people were talking about this film which had travelled to so many film festivals and also got the National Award, so I decided to sendthe film to the selection committee for the Academy Awards. I was hopeful, and when I got the news of my movie’s selection it was very overwhelming and the best moment of my life and for everyone who was involved in the film. There were so many good cinemas, there were so many members of the jury in the selection committee, and being able to get selected was a great honour. The children who acted in the film were also very happy.Although the children did not even know what the Academy Awards meant then, the news of the selection of their first film as India’s official entry to the Oscars was greeted with joy and they also became aware of what the Oscars meant then.

You have also been on the jury of Berlin International Film Festival , Mumbai International Film Festival, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and Zlin Film Festival for Children & Youth. As a jury what do you look for in a film?

The first thing that I look for in a film is the story. It can be a superhero film; it can be simple story or an art film. I especially see how the director has made the film and with what conviction. A filmmaker can take up any subject but it is the power of conviction in telling the storythat matters the most. Recently I watched Avataar. We have not seen these characters in our real life. But it is a big thing for the director on how he has mesmerised you and takes you through the emotional journey. So, firstly the conviction and seeondly the language of the cinema matters a lot. When we watch a lot of cinema, there are many stories which we might feel are similar and want to convey the same message, but it is how well this message is conveyed and creates a lasting impression is important. While watching a cinema, I look at the treatment of the cinema by the director. Cinema is amedia that once you lose interest it is very difficult to bring it back, and there should be a balance. So, I look at these things. Actually, it depends on what you are feeling at the moment while watching the cinema. There are cinemas which you forget after coming out from the movie theatre, and there are those that remain with you for a long time. As a member of a jury we have to watch a lot of movies, and it is very difficult for us to choose the best film and give the awards but still we have to do it.

Tell us something about the response of the audience to your films.

The response of the audience till now is very good. I will not say that if 1000 people came to watch my film all 1000 people will love it, and specially for all the genres of film that I am making. The most important thing for me is how many people have been touched by watching my movie. Our emotions are universal, and keeping that in mind I have made my films. I am happy the people from different countries of the world have been able to connect with my film. There are so many people who write to me, speak with me after watching my film. I am especially happy that in India when you are working independently with very less money and almost no crew, a film likeVillage Rockstar got a National Award as well as selection for India’s official entry to the Oscars --it created a trend. The young generation was also inspired as they came to know that a film can be made independentlywith a low budget and can win many accolades and awards. Several have responded to the Village Rockstar way of making a film and are also trying independently, I feel that it is a vey big achievement, specially in a country like India. And I also think f that we are used to watching big budget films, and I feel that Village Rockstar has been able to break the flow. I feel that there are many stories out there that should be told and can be told without waiting for big budgets.

When I was making Village Rockstar my aim was not to win any awards nor was I trying to get any achievement. I was just making a film because I loved cinema, it happened unknowingly. Later I felt that it is not only my achievement but it is for everyone who was involved in the film and also for those who got inspired to make more independent films after watching Village Rockstar. It is like it has opened windows for all. Unknowingly I became an inspiration to the young generation of filmmakers.

Can you tell us about your awards?

For my film Village Rockstar, I got the National Award for the best film and best editor. My filmBulbul Can Sing also won the National Award for the Best Feature film in Assamese in 2019. I won the Prag Cine Awards for best film for Man with Binoculars: Antarrishti in 2017, Village Rockstar in 2018 andBulbul can Sing in 2019.

Can you tell us about your upcoming projects. What projects are you working on right now?

Tora’s Husband is ready for release and we are planning for its release in September. Apart from that just three days ago I started shooting for a project My Melbourne with an Australian crew and it is my first international project. I did work for an international project before, but they were the producersand I had to shoot my component in India. My Melbourne is my first project to be shot outside India. It will release next year. I have also directed a short film for Bollywood for an OTT platform, which is a part of an anthology. That will also be released soon. Apart from these we are also making Village Rockstar 2. There are additional casts along with the original cast. I have also shot a film for the Government, which I was told to make after winning the National Award. I have to complete that as well.

Our film industry has seen a tremendous change in present times. The filmmakers are experimenting with new stories and new concepts. What is your view on this.

It is great. It is interesting that a lot of people are making films because they love to make films and they love cinema. They are also not looking at what will be the benefit and what will be the loss. It is also not easy to overlook the fact about how much the film will benefit financially. It is quite risky to make a film. But still the film makers are making so many films with different stories and concepts. I think that is a very good thing because I believe that whatever you are thinking at that moment gets documented. If we look back there were times when only VCD films were being made or there were times when you had to shoot on a film camera which was quite expensive. Now with everything becoming digital, it is important for documentation and as a filmmaker it is our responsibility, because we are documenting a period of time. I think a lot of people are doing a very good job. And I think we will see the actual resultsmaybe after 5 to 10 years.

Lastly any words for our readers.

I just want to say that live your dreams and live your life more than worrying. I have done lots of mistakes in my life and I regret that, but still, I feel that we should live our life and contribute and not be bitter. Be it in your personal life or professional life you will face challenges, but you should not become bitter because then you will not be able to contribute towards your own personal growth. And if you have talent, I think that God has plans for everyone. Recognising who you are and not wasting your talent, moving forward and not looking backis the positive way of doing things, I think we have no time to hate and create conflict. Just go ahead and live positively. If I look back, whatever I have learnt it is because I have grown up in Assam and have learnt those things in my growing up years. There may be some mistakes which we cannot rectify, but we should leave behindpositive things for the next generation.

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