KIFF's Unheard Indian Rare Language film section likely to go competitive next year
KOLKATA: If everything goes according to plan, Unheard India: Rare Language Films section at the 27th edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) can go competitive next year.
The section, which celebrated its sixth year at the KIFF, gained immense traction after it was introduced in 2015. The KIFF committee is planning to make it competitive given the increasing popularity of the films made in Indian aboriginal languages. Unfortunately, in the last edition due to the Covid situation, the Unheard India section was not included. Till now, there are five competition categories at the KIFF — International Competition: Innovation in Moving Images, Competition on Indian Language's Films, Asian Select (NETPAC Award), Competition on Indian Short Films and Competition on Indian Documentary Films.
"Initially, when we started, we weren't getting good films, but for us, the language was always important. From Nagasmese, Monpa, Chakma, Lambani, Jasari, Kurbi, Dogri, Maithili, Khasi, and others, we always gave preference to the language. Over time, the section has now become popular among cine buffs. In fact, some of our films which were screened here have bagged National Award. We screened 'Sinjar' directed by Sandeep Pampally, which won the Best Feature Film in Jasari at the National Film Awards. Then, we are screening National Award-winning filmmaker Assamese filmmaker Arup Manna's Bodo film 'Next to Mother Bokhali'. Biswajeet Bora's critically acclaimed Mising language film 'Boomba Ride' is also there. The KIFF committee has been supportive throughout towards the Unheard India section," said Santanu Ganguly, curator of the Unheard India section at the KIFF.
When asked if the committee is planning to make the section competitive next year, Ganguly told Millennium Post that there have been talks about it owing to the acceptance of the rare language films. At the 27th KIFF, the Unheard India section has eight films of languages, including Bodo, Mising, Kodava, Rajbanshi, Tulu, Konkani, Kurumba and Santali.
In fact, Ganguly remembered how Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had encouraged people to watch these 'rare languages' films the year the section was introduced. "From the same dais with Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, she asked the cine-goers to support these small films. It was a huge boost," he said.
He also recalled how directors Goutam Ghose and Kaushik Ganguly, also KIFF committee members, jumped to the idea of the introduction of the Unheard India section when Ganguly broached the topic six years ago.
According to Ganguly, the main attractions of this year are Rajbanshi and Kurumba language films. For the first time, a Rajbanshi film, 'Bihaan' (Tune of Faith) directed by Saurabh Saha is being screened at the festival. Interestingly, for the first time, any feature-length film has been made in the Kurumba language too. Titled 'Mmmmm…' (The Sound of Pain), it is directed by Vijeesh Mani. Kurumbar people belong to the states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
For Santali actor and Minister of State for Forest Birbaha Hansda, the main aim to promote films made in Indian aboriginal languages is to keep the language intact. "It's a pity that we don't have a platform to showcase films made in our local languages. However, we have great stories to tell. No producer comes forward due to commercial reasons. If I ever turn a producer, I will back these kinds of projects," she said. However, Hansda added that the KIFF has taken a great initiative by promoting rare language films.
