By Olivia Lyngdoh
Mawlong
He is only 26 but Rinaldi Kharbani has many stories to tell. The young director from Nongstoin is undaunted and says no stumbling block can lessen his love for movies.
“There are problems and discouragement. But I will follow my urge to make films. I am confident that one day my good works will get recognised,” says the filmmaker.
Kharbani started making films with his mobile phone in 2015. He used simple technology and visual effects. “There was no filmmaker in Nongstoin and I wanted to tell stories in the local dialect. This prompted me to get into filmmaking,” he says.
Kharbani, who has graduated from mobile phone to DSLR 1200D camera, makes film with not more than a budget of Rs 10,000-Rs 15,000. “The actors also contribute some money, that way we roll on,” he said.
Most of the actors in his films are locals and friends and that helps him save money.
Kharbani’s films are on various issues like social issues and law and order. The young director can easily depict a serious subject through comedy and instantly connects to his viewers.
Instead of brooding over screening problems, Kharbani uploads his films on Youtube. Every film he has uploaded gets not less than 30,000 viewers. “The films that I made this year, I haven’t uploaded them on Youtube yet.”
He has also sent his films to festivals. Balei, a film shot in mobile camera, talks about child labour and was on the top five list in the North East Film Festival in 2015.
Another film, My Own Hell on crime against women, was among the top 10 at the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival.
In 2017, he has already made a short film, Ki Lum ki ud, and a documentary, The Ploughing Song. “I will try to make a feature film some day with my own money,” says the director and adds that support has poured in after Balei got recognised.
He has also worked on government projects (mockdrill, disaster management). It is from these projects that he manages to earn some money.
The young director, besides making films, also does photography, videography on birthdays, weddings, edits still photos. Also does graphic designs, flexes, banners to make money.
But Kharbani is aiming for the “higher level of acknowledgement” and wants to pursue filmmaking as a full-time career.