Documentary film on the lives of Adivasis of Assam

The Lesser Inhabitants of the Green Paradise,

A 68 minutes documentary film on the lives of Adivasis of Assam , titled ” The Lesser Inhabitants of the Green Paradise” was made by Anjali Tirkey, a freelance writer based in Assam. The film was produced by Pajhra, an NGO working in the midst of the adivasis living in the North East India.

The film highlights the socio-economic situation of the adivasis working in the tea gardens of Assam.

It intoduces tea not just as the most loved beverage but also as the biggest revenue earner for the state of Assam in India. The documentary traces the discovery of tea in the 19th century, the need for labour, the migration of adivasis to Assam from the states of Jharkhand, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh etc and their immense contribution not just to the tea industry but to the infrastructural developement of Assam like roads and railways. The film also refers to the culture of Adivasis, though its main objective is to spread awareness about the plight of the adivasis- their poverty, exploitation, bleak socio-economic status and in the end, hope and a desire to bring a change.

This is the first film produced by PAJHRA. Stephen Ekka, the director of PAJHRA said that their first attempt was more as an experimental basis, but he was satisfied with the result and happier because the film was taking part in VATAVARAN film festival in Delhi.

Anjali Tirkey the director of the film had lived the concept for some months before she ventured into the making of the film. She was assisted by Arindita Gogoi, a mass communication student in the script writing, camera and direction.

“It is definitely my first film and hence has a lot of mistakes. But I have learnt and grown up. It was not an easy job as I did not have the technical background and we had a limited time and budget. Moreover the editing was done during trying times ie when my husband was in the ICU in hospital and we could not postpone the editing if we wanted to complete the film for the Vatavaran film festival.

Vatavaran is one of the most respected film festival in India about Natural and Social Environment and Wildlife. It is an annual film festival and this year it is to be held in New Delhi from 21st to 24th November.” she said.

Anjali Tirkey will also be representing the film as a delegate in the film festival in Delhi.

The film is also for sale in CD format at Rs.99. For more details one can write to pajhra@rediffmail.com, stephenekka@rediffmail.com or anjalitirkey@rediffmail.com