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)