New Church-Made Film Released

AGARTALA, SEPT. 09, 2008, 11.00 Hrs (CBCI News):
Two Cabinet Ministers of Tripura's Marxist Government, Anil Sarkar and Jitendra Choudhury have lauded the Catholic Church's commitment to the preservation and promotion of local cultures and languages in the Northeast Indian state of Tripura. They were speaking at the release of 'Yarwng' (Roots), a Kokborok feature film made by Sampari Pictures, on 4th September at Nazrul Kalashketra in the capital town of Agartala in Tripura.

Yarwng (Roots), released in 35mm celluloid is an absorbing treatment of the large-scale displacement of peoples caused by the Gumti Hydel project in Tripura decades ago. With its byline, 'a romance on the idyllic banks of Raima and Saima, swept away by the floodgates of Change', the film is an engrossing study of love, loss and never-ending hope.

Referring to the earlier, award-winning film of Sampari Pictures, 'Mathia', Mr. Sarkar, the Minister for Information, Culture and Tourism said, "Thanks to Mathia, the Kokborok language is known today beyond the confines of the state and the country." The minister lauded the efforts of the Church to serve the marginalized sections of the society through, education, health care, social service and now Cultural Promotion.

Quoting the example of some South American tribes that 'cannot even cry in their own language', Mr. Sarkar, who is also a renowned poet, said it is a 'national shame' when any tribe, however small, loses its language. Recalling how Christian missionaries have always been committed to promotion of Culture and language in the past, Mr. Sarkar praised the use of the medium of 'film' by the Church as it will 'directly strengthen culture and language of the peoples'.

Jitendra Choudhury, another Cabinet Minster who released the new film Yarwng recalled to mind the many services the Church in Tripura renders to the people. He said, 'prominent among the things the people of the state are grateful to the Church for, are the two films made by Sampari Pictures – Mathia and Yarwng'.

Bishop Lumen Monteiro of Agartala who was a guest of honour at the function reiterated the resolve of the Church to stand strongly with the weak, the poor and the marginalized. Making of films like Mathia and Yarwng, therefore, are 'hugely meaningful and relevant activities' for the Church, said the Bishop.

A large gathering of film lovers of the city mainly from the tribal communities attended the premiere show of the 95-minute film produced by Fr. K.J. Joseph sdb and directed by Fr. Joseph Pulinthanath sdb. SIGNIS, the official Communication body of the Catholic Church, MISSIO and the Salesian Society part-financed the making of the film.

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