HYDERABAD: The Telangana–North East Connect two-day film festival opened on Friday at Prasads IMAX. Governor Jishnu Dev Varma inaugurated the event and attended the opening screening of Yarving, a Tripura film directed by National Award winner Father Joseph.
In his address to the gathering, the Governor described the initiative as an engagement platform covering culture, healthcare, information technology, women’s empowerment, creative arts and youth participation. He said the diversity of the Northeast, combined with Telangana’s energy, offers scope for long-term collaboration.
The Governor noted that cinema crosses language and geography, with Telugu films now widely viewed in remote tribal areas through digital platforms. This, he said, shows cinema’s ability to build understanding and support national integration.
Varma added that the Northeast has a growing film ecosystem, with film-makers from Tripura, Manipur, Assam and other states regularly earning national recognition. He encouraged delegates to draw useful insights and strengthen cultural links with Telangana, with Hyderabad emerging as a hub for creativity and multicultural activity.
The festival programme includes Tara (Sikkim Nepali), Kuki (Hindi), Onaatah (Khasi, Meghalaya), Eikhoigi Yum (Manipur), Red or Pakhi (Assam), and several Telugu films produced by the Telangana Film Development Corporation. Award-winning Telugu films Na Bangaru Thalli, Pottel and Mallesham will also be screened.
Ch Priyanka, Commissioner, Information and Public Relations Department, said the festival was part of the broader Telangana–North East Connect initiative and features 12 films representing six states.
Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Sports Minister Vakiti Srihari and other officials attended.
Governor launches badminton competitions
Hyderabad: As part of the Telangana–North East Connect initiatives, Governor Jishnu Dev Varma inaugurated the badminton competitions held at the Gopichand Academy.
Matches were conducted between Telangana and Northeast teams in both boys’ and girls’ categories. He said the strong grassroots sports culture in both the North Eastern states and Telangana reflects the shared sporting traditions of the two regions. He later held a meeting with journalists including Indraneel Das, Sports Editor at TNIE.