SHILLONG: Acclaimed National Award winning film director Jahnu Barua is of the view that Northeastern cinema is a way of storytelling their rich culture, people, their beliefs and so on.
Speaking as the chief guest at the muhurat of Khasi film Iewduh-Live your story at Aurobindo Hall here on Tuesday, Barua said “We tell our story through cinema.”
Observing that the Northeastern region has so many stories that are still unexplored, he said, “If you have stories, it must be told. If the outside world is not aware of them then it is our duty to tell them. Because of stories our society has improved.”
Coming from a village, he expressed he has never dreamt of making films and to make it to festivals, forums and to travel all around the world with his films.“I do not look at the Northeastern region as individual states but as one North East,” Barua said. According to him, it is important for people to know their own identity, land, state, areas and culture even as he pointed out that questions of identity crisis have emerged in recent times. He has put the onus of telling stories on the filmmakers.
Barua has directed critically acclaimed movies such as Ajeyo, Baandhon, Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara etc.
