This archival documentation from the Sangeet Natak Akademi filmed on location since 1956 glimpses the tapestry of the folk and tribal dances of North-east India. Compiled by Susmit Bose in 1999.
a Sacred grove or Law Kyntang has stood for at least 1000 years and one of the reasons the forest still survives is because cutting down any tree or branch here is taboo. This forest is the home of U Ryngkew U Basa. The forest covers almost 80 hectares. It is under the Kingdom or Hima Mawphlang, in which here they perform various thanksgiving and blessing ceremoies. Some of the this rituals go back to 900 years old.
Ambi Jiji always planted her crops on soil where forests have been burnt. This jhum field would then be abandoned and left to regenerate into a forest and a new one burnt. Increasingly, jhum fields are being turned into orchards which provide cash and food security. Through Ambi Jiji and her daughters, we see the passing of a way of life in a remote village in Meghalaya.
Alu muri man is the person whom the students seek to find after end of their schools. There are over 3000 alu muri men roaming around Shillong everyday. Regardless of hygiene, it is unquestionably mouth watering mixed boiled potatoes a treat to watch.
Pomu Das a second Generation Shillong Bengali is the irrespresible producer of the second film to be made in Khasi - Ka mon Bajwat. What sets the film apart is it's exuberent appropriation of Bollywood, something Pomu Das does with elan giving our city a taste of itself in mainstream flavours. The film which was released in 1998 was an instant hit in a city often seen to be at logger heads with the idea of India.
Considering the geo-physical isolation as well as socio-economic condition of this region it is necessary to extend wider exposure of socio-cultural and economic activities including tourism product of the state.
Abiding Grace' is an informative film on the culture, landscape and history of the North East of India. It takes us through the seven states in the North East, namely Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. North East India has a predominantly humid sub-tropical climate with hot, humid summers, severe monsoons and mild winters. Along with the west coast of India, this region has some of the Indian subcontinent's last remaining rain forests. The cultural traditions are not confined to themes of divine love but also include a strong influence of mythology that people can easily identify with. The film travels to each state and visually narrates the traditions, dances and practices along with the distinct landscapes of each of the seven states.
