By Our Correspondent
Agartala, 27/03/2010
Recognition for Yarwng (Roots), the first film of the state to receive a national award heralds a new chapter for the film industry in Tripura. On March 19 last Fr Joseph Pulinthanath received the award from President Dr Pratibha Devi Singh Patil. The 56th National film award ceremony marked a new beginning for the film industry of the state. It may be mentioned here that TRIPURATODAY.com was the first news media to break the news of this feat achieved by this feature film. The film was a direct replica of the sufferings of the local tribals displaced as a result of the setting up a hydel power plant. All local artists from Tripura including actors Meena Debbarma who plays the lead role of Karmati, Amulya Ratan Jamatia, Nirmal Jamatia and Surabhi Debbarma are also elated by the rare success achieved by this film .
In fact this is not the first award that this much acclaimed film has received. Earlier it had won a special jury mention award at the 3rd Eye Asian Film festival held in Mumbai in2008. The film, part-financed by Church organizations – Missio Germany, Signis and the Salesian Congregation is also a compelling testament to the commitment of the Church and the Don Bosco Society to preservation of local, indigenous cultures and people . Talking with this website fr Pulinthanath told this reporter that his next project will also be a documentary on the same topic. “ I wish to dwell on the identical issue of displacement in my next documentary “, he further stated.