Rumela SinhaKolkata, Nov 15 (PTI) Be it a Chakma girl's failedlove story in Satarupa Sanyal's 'Tanyabi Lake' or the complextale of relationships in Ahsan Majid's Monpa language movie'Sonam', rare language films, quite unassumingly, are touchingthe right chords at the 23rd Kolkata International FilmFestival (KIFF).
Spoken by tiny minorities, these films give glimpsesof traditions and cultures that not many are aware of, saidthe chairperson of KIFF seminar committee, RatnottamaSengupta.
"Rare language films were first introduced in KIFFschedule in 2015. These little-known languages, if notpromoted, would go extinct over a period of time and with thatthe poetries, songs and films made in these dialects wouldalso fade into oblivion," Sengupta said.
This year, eight movies in as many languages ordialects - Monpa, Konkani, Kodava, Bodo, Dogri, Maithili,Khasi and Chakma - have found screen space at the 'UnheardIndia: Rare Indian Languages' section of the fest, much to thedelight of film buffs.
"I am glad that some rare films that we don't usuallycome across in movie libraries or the Internet were screenedat KIFF. These rare language films talk about societies thatwe are completely unaware of," said Debmit Dutta, a delegateat the KIFF and a telecom MNC employee.
Director Satarupa Sanyal, who dealt with the cultureand 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.
"Chakmas still hold on to their traditions. TanyabiLake is a story of love, loss and hope where a rivulet driesup and changes its course. I conceived the idea while doing myresearch work on the community," she explained.
The seminar committee chief asserted that the city hasalways given art its due importance, no matter what itsorigin.
"These films usually talk about traditions, cultureand problems relevant in their community, something that mostof us are unaware of. KIFF gave me an opportunity to curatethe 'Unheard India' section and bring to mainstream some ofthe fine works in rare languages," Sengupta told PTI.
Echoing similar sentiments, director K Ramesh Samathsaid he was thrilled to see a packed hall at the screening ofhis Konkani film Ai. Vai. Jaa. Saa. The film follows thejourney of four children with diverse backgrounds.
"My work has been liked and appreciated in Delhi aswell as Atlanta film fests but Kolkata is the only place whereI witnessed a packed hall for a rare language film. So far,only five films have been made in Konkani language, spoken bya tiny population in Karnataka and Maharashtra. Aai. Vai. Jaa.
Saa. is the first children's film in Konkani language," hesaid.
Manju Borah's 'Songs of the Horned Owl', based on amyth in the Bodo community and Rahul Sharma's 'Pebbles' whichgives an insight into the lifestyle of small street gangsters,also drew huge appreciation at the fest.
Yadab Mondal, director (films), KIFF, told PTI thatKIFF wants to give these rare language films a platform, wherea Maithili film is applauded alongside a mainstream Frenchclassic.
"There should be no language barrier when it comes toart. The Unheard India section has been specially curated topromote these unknown and unheard gems. The efforts that gointo making these films should be recognised," Mandal added.
PTI RMSMM.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.