AGARTALA, June 12: A feature film on internal displacement in Tripura in Kokborok (tribal language) with English subtitle was screened in New York today.
Previously, the film had won a special jury award at the seventh Asian film festival in Mumbai, Yarwng (Root). Director of the film Joseph Pulinthanath said that Yarwng got an overwhelming appreciation at the Museum of Modern Art in New York which was scheduled to be screened at Stuttgart in Europe and at Brisbane in Australia in July.
He said Yarwng was selected for the overseas premiere at prestigious film events in US, Europe and Australia despite culture and language barrier.
The film has already been to more than 20 International festivals within the country, including the IFFI in Goa last year.
“The film is about how the gathering waters of a just-completed hydel project doomed the future of the villagers of the particular area besides, Karmati and Wakhirai,” the producer K J Joseph said.
The film also essays the life of Chokdri (village headman), Ochai (Village Priest) and Agurai (Shopkeeper).
About 80,000 tribals were ousted in 1976 when Dumbur hydel project was commissioned with a 30-metre high gravity dam constructed across the river Gumati about 3.5 km upstream of south Tripura, which submerged a valley area of 46.34 sq km for generating 8.60 megawatts of power from an installed capacity of 10 megawatt.
Unfortunately, about 60 per cent of the oustees have not yet received any rehabilitation from the government and most of them were settled in the hill ranges.
The story of Yarwng was set in the backdrop of the Gumati hydel project and projects the trauma of displacement and its aftermath that unfolds in the lives of the characters.
The film was based on the real narratives of the people, said Meena Debbarmma, the lead female character of the film. (Agencies)
http://www.sentinelassam.com/northeast.php?sec=2&subsec=9&id=13389&dtP=2009-06-13&ppr=1
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