Garo film Rimdogittanga wins National Film Award
President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday conferred National Awards for acting to Shah Rukh Khan, Vikrant Massey and Rani Mukerji while Malayalam superstar Mohanlal was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke lifetime achievement award in a ceremony that doffed its hat to mainstream popular cinema.
Filmmakers Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who took home the best film prize for 12th Fail, and Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehra, who received the award for Rocky Aur Rani Kii Kahaani for best popular film providing wholesome entertainment, completed the starry ensemble at the 71st National Film Awards.
The best director award went to Sudipto Sen for The Kerala Story. The National Awards for 2023 were announced in August. It’s the first National Award for friends and frequent collaborators Shah Rukh and Rani as well as for Vikrant.
While Shah Rukh got it for his role in Jawan, sharing his win with 12th Fail star Vikrant, Rani bagged it for Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway.
Dominic Sangma directed Garo film Rimdogittanga popularly known as Rupture received the Rajat Kamal award from the President.
The film was awarded under the “Languages other than those specified in Schedule VIII of the Constitution.”
Dominic’s other film Ma.Ama had also won the Best Film Award in Garo language in the 66th National Film Awards in 2018.
The film has received critical acclaim for its immersive storytelling rooted in the tribal culture of Meghalaya. The story is set in a village in the Garo Hills, where a church prophecy warns of 80 days of darkness.
“This Award is dedicated to the people of Meghalaya, especially the people of the Garo Hills,” he said. adding “I hope it inspires more young filmmakers from the region to tell stories of this place with courage and sincerity,” Sangma said in a statement.
Producer Eva Gunme, a steadfast patron of Northeast Indian arts and a key collaborator in bringing Rapture to fruition, echoed the sentiment of cultural pride. “This win is a testament to the untapped storytelling power of the Garo Hills and the Northeast,” she said.
