Rare language films enthrall film buffs at KIFF

Ahsan Majid's Monpa language movie Sonam, rare language films, quite unassumingly, are touching the right chords at the 23rd Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF).

Spoken by tiny minorities, these films give glimpses of traditions and cultures that not many are aware of, said the chairperson of KIFF seminar committee, Ratnottama Sengupta.

"Rare language films were first introduced in KIFF schedule in 2015. These little-known languages, if not promoted, would go extinct over a period of time and with that the poetries, songs and films made in these dialects would also fade into oblivion," Sengupta said.

This year, eight movies in as many languages or dialects — Monpa, Konkani, Kodava, Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Khasi and Chakma — have found screen space at the 'Unheard India: Rare Indian Languages' section of the fest, much to the delight of the film buffs.

"I am glad that some rare films that we don't usually come across in movie libraries or the Internet were screened at KIFF. These rare language films talk about societies that we are completely unaware of," said Debmit Dutta, a delegate at the KIFF and a telecom MNC employee.

Director Satarupa Sanyal, who dealt with the culture and traditions of Chakma community in her film Tanyabi Lake, said her film showcases a unique Konyapon or a dowry system, where the groom pays money to the bride's family.