National Award winning film from Tripura Yarwng (Roots), made in Kokborok language, to be screened in Paris.

Published Friday, Dec 02,2011:13:27
Place Agartala/ Agency PTI

National Award winning film from Tripura Yarwng (Roots), made in Kokborok language, will be screened in Paris.

Yarwng, the opening film of the Indian Panorama section at India international Film Festival of India (IFFI Goa) in 2008, had brought to Tripura its first National Film Award in 2010.

The film will be screened on December eight at the Maison Des cultures du Monde in Paris under the patronage of Program Sorosoro of the Chirac Foundation.

"Yarwng has been a typical instance of a film being a vehicle for the uplift of a language and culture," says the film's director, Salesian Father Josheph Pulinthanath.

The director hopes the Paris screening of the film with subtitles in French will 'further open up avenues for the development of Kokborok language'.

"It's wonderful to know that our film is doing its bit as an ambassador for Kokborok culture," says Pulinthanath who has embarked on making his third Kokborok feature film.

The 60-member Yarwng crew braved several odds to make the film happen, the second one from the director in the language, the first being 'Mathia' (Bangle) on the social evil of witch-hunt.

The story of the 95-minute feauture film revolves around large-scale displacement in Tripura when the newly-built Dumbur dam submerged huge tracts of arable land in the fertile Riama valley about 40 years ago.

Yarwng was shot on actual locations like Bolongbasa and adjoining areas and many of the people who act in the film are real life victims of displacement.

The lead actors of Yarwng are local talents, Meena Debbarma, Nirmal Jamatia and Sushil Debbarma.

Yarwng has been screened in over 40 international film festivals across the world, including those in USA, Germany, Australia, Moscow and Taiwan.

The screening of the acclaimed Kokborok film will mark the setting up a foundation in India which plans to document 100 unscheduled languages spoken in the country.

Feature film in Tripura’s tribal language bags national award

The Hindu, 28 January, 2010
PTI
Share · print · T+ A feature film in Tripura’s tribal language, Kokbarak, - ‘Yarwng’ (Roots) has won the National Award for ‘Best Feature Film in languages other than those specified in the Schedule VIII of the Constitution.

The 95-minute film which takes a poignant look at the displacement of thousands of indigenous people in Tripura because of the Gumti Hydel project, was released in September 2008.

It has been screened at over 40 international film festivals across the world, including New York, Stuttgart, Moscow, Brisbane, Dhaka and Taiwan.

“It is the first time that Tripura has won a national film award,” its Director Joseph Pulinthanath said on Thursday.

“It is a proud day for the Kokborok language and its speakers,” he said.

The award to ‘YARWNG’ was announced at the 56th National Film Awards by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ambika Soni, on January 23 in New Delhi.

Produced by Joseph Kizhakechennadu of Don Bosco Sampari Pictures the cast is made up mostly of indigenous people who were victims of displacement and had no experience whatsoever in acting.

Those with prior experience in the film field included well-known artistes of the State, Meena Debbarma and Amulya Ratan Jamatia.
http://www.smsfi.com/source/30839/feature-film-in-tripurarsquo;s-tribal-language-bags-national-award

TRIPURA'S 'YARWNG' GETS NATIONAL FILM AWARD

[1/26/2010]
CM Paul, cmpaul53@gmail.com

Agartala, 26, Jan 2010: Acclaimed Kokborok Feature film from Tripura Yarwng (Roots) has won National Award in the category of Best Feature Film in languages other than those specified in the Schedule VIII of the Constitution. The 56th National Film Awards was announced by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ambika Soni, on 23rd January in New Delhi.

It is the first time the Northeast Indian state of Tripura wins a national film award.

Ever since its release in September 2008, the 95 minute long feature film in Kokborok has been screened at over 40 international film festival venues across the world, including New York, Stuttgart, Moscow, Brisbane, Dhaka and Taiwan.

It was the Opening Film of the Indian Panorama section of the International Film Festival of India 2008, held in Goa.

Yarwng also picked up a Special Jury Mention Award at the 7th Third Eye Asian Film Festival held in Mumbai, 2008.

Produced by Joseph Kizhakechennadu sdb of Don Bosco Sampari Pictures and directed by Joseph Pulinthanath sdb, the film takes a poignant look at the displacement of thousands of indigenous people in Tripura on account of the Gumti Hydel project.

The cast of Yarwng, which New York Times described as a rare glimpse into tribal India is made up mostly of indigenous people who are themselves victims of displacement and had no experience whatsoever in acting.

Those with prior experience in the film field include well-known artistes of the state - Meena Debbarma and Amulya Ratan Jamatia. The technical crew of Yarwng was from the south Indian city of Trivandrum.

The National Award comes as a shot in the arm not only for the nascent film industry in the state, but for the tribal communities and Kokborok language in particular.

Along with everyone else involved in the making of Yarwng, I feel happy that we have been able to get for Tripura and its people, its first National Film Award. I am hopeful we shall see more such awards in future, said Pulinthanath, the director of Yarwng. It is a proud day for Kokborok language and its speakers, he added.

The film was made with financial assistance from funding agencies of the Catholic Church Signis (Brussels), Missio (Germany) and the Salesian Congregation.

The President of India, Pratibha Patil would give away the National Film Awards in March 2010. END


(Article Viewed 209 times)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|| User Comment || Write Your Comment ||

".. Congratulation to the team of Yarwng,
Its really a great moment for kokborok speakers.
Fr PJ rocks .."
A Debbarma, adebbarma@tiprasa.com , 1/27/2010

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
".. --------------Great!
Polianthanath should be recognised as Borok of the Boroks or else at least should be given an award from borok society with some recognition....great job by the director and his team. .."
amon tripura, amon_tripura@hotmail.com , 1/27/2010

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
".. Congrats to Fr Pulinthanth, the producer Fr KJ Joseph and YARWNG crew.
They deserve state level recognition for securing the first ever national film award. .."
C.M. Paul, cmpaul53@gmail.com , 1/27/2010

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
".. A Big congratulations to pulithanath. But the missionaries in tripura sud not play double standardness with tripuris. If a missionaries at all want to uplift the indigenous boroks of tripura, they sud not only focus on converting people into christianity. wholehearted devotion sud be kept in mind for the welfare of tripuris.

Nowadays, missionaries are only interested in making names by building churches and to stay neutral they win the heart of the indigenous by making sensitve films. Certainly, i do appreciate the knowledge that pulithanath carried forward to the masses.

One thing he sud spread the reality through his camera not only to win awards. .."
rdbrma, rdbrma@tiprasa.com , 1/27/2010

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
".. u r right bro
nowadays i also feel the same
missionaries are really playing double std...
majority benefit is going to bongs .."
indo sekhar, indo_reang@yahoo.com , 1/27/2010

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
".. Remember they are missionaries, they have some mission.
You can't expect them to take care of all your needs, they are not here to take sides,
What they are doing is already too much we should be thankful to them rather criticize them.
Mr Indo you have seen only the negative aspect, no doubt they have, but their positive aspect are too large that the negative are hardly visible.
Can you imagine the Manik Sarkar Govt or any Govt, building schools in remote tripuri areas for tripuris, no doubt to build Schools they took the support of the church their one of the mission.
Any let me not further make it murkier and take this opportunity to thank the Director and entire team of yarwng for taking the Kokborok to a level where no one could do till now, .."
wansuk, wanuk18@gmail.com , 1/27/2010

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
".. Congration to the team of YARWNG...... .."
N Debbarma, nandujob@bhelhyd.co.in , 1/28/2010

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
".. My Heartfelt Congratulations to the entire crew members and casts of "Yarwng"..
Excellent movie and script!
One suggestion to them:-
1.What if, a movie on the controversial Forest bill can be made!!

and about the Missionary thing.
Obviously..There's a english term called,
There's nothing called a Free Lunch in this world'! So Nothing comes for Free my dear!
.."
chokren, chokreng_borok@yahoo.co.in , 1/28/2010

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
".. The tiprasa.com team should highlight issue on Human Rights violation. I appreciate all your coverage but I think there are instance of rights violation which are not put on the coverage. I think it will be good if you make it possible to get information on such issues so that the victim be compensated through legal means. I hope to receive response from the team. .."
swapan, swapandebbarma83@gmail.com , 2/3/2010

Salesian’s film wins national award

Published Date: January 27, 2010
It was the Opening Film of the Indian Panorama section of the International Film Festival of India 2008, held in Goa.

A feature film directed by Salesian Father Joseph Pulinthanath has won Tripura state’s first national film award.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni announced the film awards on Jan. 23 in New Delhi.
Father Pulinthanath’s “Yarwng” (roots) in Kokborok language was selected as the best feature film in the category of languages not officially recognized in India.
It is the first national film award for the northeastern state.
Indian President Pratibha Patil will present the awards in March.
Produced by Salesian Father Joseph Kizhakechennadu of Don Bosco Sampari Pictures and directed by Father Pulinthanath, the Tripura film speaks about the displacement of thousands of indigenous people in the state due to the Gumti Hydel hydro-electric project.
Glimpse into tribal India
The cast of “Yarwng,” which the “New York Times” described as a “rare glimpse into tribal India,” is mostly indigenous people who were displaced by the dam project. They had no previous acting experience.
The award has made Kokborok language and its speakers proud, an elated Father Pulinthanath told UCA News.
“Along with everyone else involved in the making of ‘Yarwng,’ I feel happy that we have been able to get for Tripura and its people its first national film award,” he added.
The priest said he hopes to see “more such awards” for the film in future.
Father Pulinthanath says the award would boost not only the nascent film industry in Tripura, but also tribal communities and the Kokborok language.
The film was made with funds from Catholic aid agencies including Signis (Brussels), Missio (Germany) and the Salesian congregation.
Father Pulinthanath released the 95-minute film in September 2008 and since then it has been screened at more than 40 international film festival venues, including New York, Stuttgart, Moscow, Brisbane, Dhaka and Taiwan.
It was the opening film of the Indian Panorama section of the International Film Festival of India 2008, held in Goa.
“Yarwng” also picked up a Special Jury Mention Award at the seventh Third Eye Asian Film Festival held in Mumbai in 2008.
Source: Salesian’s film wins national award (UCAN)
http://www.religiousindia.org/2010/01/27/salesian%E2%80%99s-film-wins-national-award/

"Yarwng", a Salesian Priest’s Award Winning Film: Peter Malone

Brisbane, December 1, 2009 (Peter Malone) - Yarwng, (Roots), the award-winning Kokborok film from Tripura in Northeast India was the subject of an emotionally charged discussion at Brisbane’s Regent Theatre during the 18th Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) in Australia.

"Yarwng" has a relevance for indigenous people all over the world
Each of the two BIFF screenings of the film - at the Regent Theatre and at the Gallery of Modern Art, were followed by brief interactive sessions with the director of the film, Fr. Joseph Pulinthanath SDB who was invited to the festival as a member of the Interfaith Jury.
A volley of questions was put to the director by the audience that comprised mainly of Australians. The questions ranged from the socio-economic scenario of the people depicted in the film to details of filmmaking in the Kokborok language. The Regent session turned quite dramatic and poignant when one of the viewers broke down with emotion while speaking about the trauma that displaced people undergo. He asked to be excused confessing that seeing the film was an emotionally taxing experience for him.
Among those who attended the screening of the Kokborok film was the Executive Director of the Australia-India Council, Heather Neate. Calling Yarwng “a lovely film” she thanked the director for coming over to Brisbane to tell the story of the displaced people.
The Kokborok film from India formed part of the ‘Colourise BIFF’ indigenous section of the festival along with films from Mexico, New Zealand and Brazil. Christine Peacock, the director of the ‘Colourise BIFF’ category lauded the involvement of the community in the making of Yarwng (Roots) and pointed out its relevance for indigenous people all over the world.
Anne Demy Geroe, the Festival Director of BIFF, called the film from Northeast India, "an attractive example of filmmaking as a communication medium adapted to suit the cultural, social and political needs of society".
The 95-minute film is a fictionalized account of the thousands of indigenous people that were displaced when the Dumbur dam in Tripura was constructed and a hydel project set up there in the late 70s. The film is financed by Signis, Missio and the Salesian society.
Besides Queensland’s premier city Brisbane, other international venues that screened the Kokborok Yarwng (Roots) include Stuttgart, Moscow and New York.
http://www.signis.net/article.php3?id_article=3696

Vatican Radio: Tripura’s ‘Yarwng’ gets national Film Award

27/01/2010 12.48.17


(January 27, 2010) An acclaimed feature film in local language made by the Salesians of Don Bosco in the northeastern Indian state of Tripura has won a national award in the category of ‘Best Feature Film in languages other than those specified in the Schedule VIII of the Constitution’. The film titled ‘Yarwng’, or ‘roots’ in Kokborok language is among the 56th National Film Awards that was announced by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ambika Soni, on 23rd January in New Delhi. It is the first time the Northeast Indian state of Tripura wins a national film award. Ever since its release in September 2008, the 95 minute long feature film has been screened at over 40 international film festival venues across the world, including New York, Stuttgart, Moscow, Brisbane, Dhaka and Taiwan. Produced and directed by Salesian priests Joseph Kizhakechennadu and Joseph Pulinthanath, respectively, of Don Bosco Sampari Pictures, the film takes a significant look at the displacement of thousands of indigenous people in Tripura on account of the Gumti Hydel project. The cast of ‘Yarwng’, which New York Times described as a ‘rare glimpse into tribal India’ is made up mostly of indigenous people who are themselves victims of displacement and had no experience whatsoever in acting. The President of India, Pratibha Patil will give away the National Film Awards in March 2010.
http://www.vaticanradio.org/in2/Articolo.asp?c=352410

INDIA - Salesian’s film wins national award

Published Date: January 27, 2010

AGARTALA, India (UCAN) – A feature film directed by Salesian Father Joseph Pulinthanath has won Tripura state’s first national film award.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni announced the film awards on Jan. 23 in New Delhi.
Father Pulinthanath’s “Yarwng” (roots) in Kokborok language was selected as the best feature film in the category of languages not officially recognized in India.
It is the first national film award for the northeastern state.
Indian President Pratibha Patil will present the awards in March.
Produced by Salesian Father Joseph Kizhakechennadu of Don Bosco Sampari Pictures and directed by Father Pulinthanath, the Tripura film speaks about the displacement of thousands of indigenous people in the state due to the Gumti Hydel hydro-electric project.
Glimpse into tribal India
The cast of “Yarwng,” which the “New York Times” described as a “rare glimpse into tribal India,” is mostly indigenous people who were displaced by the dam project. They had no previous acting experience.
The award has made Kokborok language and its speakers proud, an elated Father Pulinthanath told UCA News.
“Along with everyone else involved in the making of ‘Yarwng,’ I feel happy that we have been able to get for Tripura and its people its first national film award,” he added.
The priest said he hopes to see “more such awards” for the film in future.
Father Pulinthanath says the award would boost not only the nascent film industry in Tripura, but also tribal communities and the Kokborok language.
The film was made with funds from Catholic aid agencies including Signis (Brussels), Missio (Germany) and the Salesian congregation.
Father Pulinthanath released the 95-minute film in September 2008 and since then it has been screened at more than 40 international film festival venues, including New York, Stuttgart, Moscow, Brisbane, Dhaka and Taiwan.
It was the opening film of the Indian Panorama section of the International Film Festival of India 2008, held in Goa.
“Yarwng” also picked up a Special Jury Mention Award at the seventh Third Eye Asian Film Festival held in Mumbai in 2008.
IE08649/1586 January 27, 2010 36 EM-lines (342 words)