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Two Documentaries from Arunachal to be Screened at MIFF 2022

Two documentary films from Arunachal Pradesh, covering the life and traditions of the Galos and the Kaasik sub-tribe of the Noctes, will be screened during the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF)-2022, which began on Sunday.

The 17th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) will feature two documentary films named ‘The Galos’, directed by Apak Gadi, and ‘The Songs We Sing; The Drums We Beat’, directed by Kombong Darang.

‘The Galos’ is based on the life and traditions of the Galos, a small tribal group. According to Galos, Jimi is the creator who created Medo (the sky) and Sichi (the earth). From them was descended Abo Tani the father of man from whom all sections and clans trace their origin.

The 23-minute documentary dives into the Galos’ society and culture, focusing on their incredible knowledge of traditional herbal treatments and old therapies. Their civilisational experiments with natural feeding patterns, which could provide a vast reservoir of healthy eating habits, are a source of fascination for the modern world.

Director Apak Gadi who also served as a guest assistant professor in Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) said that the film could be an eye-opener for the rest of the world to understand and acknowledge Arunachal and Galo community’s potential to cure the world through its traditional knowledge connected to ancient medicine and food habits.

It is to be mentioned that this is Gadi’s third documentary film to be selected for screening at the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF). His earlier works include- 40 Years through the Lenses and The Membas.

Another film that made it to the 17th edition of MIFF is, ‘The Songs We Sing; The Drums We Beat’, directed by Kombong Darang, a documentation officer at the CFEL, RGU, and a PhD scholar.

Darang, through the documentary, tries to depict the rich cultural tradition of the Kaasik community, which is a subgroup of the Nocte tribe of Tirap district. He embarks on a journey of reliving their past while reflecting on their future as a distinct culture.

Congratulating the two directors, the Film & Television Guild of Arunachal expressed hope that filmmaking as a career “will cater a newer platform in the state.”

It is to be mentioned that MIFF is one of the oldest and largest film festivals for non-feature films in south Asia, which began in 1990 and is organised by the Films division of the information & broadcasting ministry.

 

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