Panaji 21 Nov : .The Indian Panorama section of International Film Festival of India opened in Panaji on Sunday.
It featured Aimee Baruah’s ‘Semkhor’.This was the first film to be shot in Dimasa (a dialect used by a tribe that lives across Assam, Nagaland, and other parts of India). Baruah spoke at the screening and said that it took her one year to learn the dialect.It isn’t even in the Eighth Schedule.
It was necessary to communicate with Semkhor’s people, who live in rural areas without access to the Internet or mobile phones.
Baruah plays, in fact, the main character of the movie.
Although she has acted in many feature films as a heroine, “Semkhor” was her first film as the director.
Baruah recalls, “I initially thought that I would use an artist from the village to make my film.But then, they wouldn’t talk infront of the camera.”
It was at that moment that I made the decision to take on the role of the main character.All the members of my team, who had never seen a camera before, were chosen by me.They all provided wonderful support and performed exceptionally well.They came up with performances that exceeded my expectations,” the actress-turned-director said.
The director shared some fascinating details about the film as well as the location where it was shot.She said that “In this century we are never content, despite all the amenities we have.” Semkhor, a town where there are no Internet or mobile networks available right now, is home to happy people.
Baruah stated that she wanted to find out how people managed it.This is why she went to Semkhor 2017
Semkhor is home to the Semsa.Semsa refers to Dimasa’s dialect.At the time, I didn’t know Dimasa at all.It dawned on me that I would not be able return to my village if the language was not understood.From Guwahati, it takes about 10 hours to get there.
Baruah said that these people are not open to talking with outsiders.
Baruah returned to Semkhor in 2018 only after learning Dimasa.
This was the moment she realized that people in her village didn’t use any products imported from abroad.The village still grows its own vegetables and doesn’t use any oil for cooking.
Baruah stated that they use saltwater from their wells to cook, and she added that certain rituals depicted in the film still are practiced.
After narrating her story, Baruah stated that she was very pleased to have brought a film from Assam on the big screen.
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