The Northeastern region of India has a lot to contribute to the world of cinema!

India is an amalgamation of several cultures. If you were to travel across the country, you might notice a shift in language, lifestyle, and even appearances as you pass through each state. The Northeastern states in particular have a very different culture compared to the rest of the nation. Collectively, they are known as the seven sisters. The region consists of seven states. Their language and customs are unique, as is their cinema, compared to the rest of the country. In recent years, films from each of their states have travelled to international film festivals and are garnering a lot of praise around the world. Here are the ones you should watch!

Nimtoh

A movie from the district of Darjeeling, the primary language of this film is Nepali. Written and directed by Saurav Rai, the story is an exploration of childhood. The motion picture continues with the themes of his prior short film called 'Gudh', which was also an official selection at the Cannes Film Festival from India. Rai's films explore the landscape of the hills and their people. To understand the region and its history, this debut feature should be on your watchlist. The critical reception of the project was very good, especially abroad, as it was selected for the International Film Festival of Rotterdam.

Lady of the Lake

Loktak Lairembee, or 'Lady of the Lake', is a Manipuri film by Haobam Paban Kumar. It is a mystical thriller that also shows life around the famous Loktak Lake in Manipur. The film is unique for many reasons, the primary one being a close look at the people residing in small communities. Narratively, it really grounds its characters in their surroundings while also familiarising audiences with myths associated with their culture. This is also a debut feature. The movie was selected for the prestigious Berlinale.

Ma.Ama

A film from Meghalaya in their native language, Garo. Written and directed by Dominic Megam Sangma, Ma.Ama tells the story of an old widower who lives a life of extreme loneliness. He longs for his deceased wife and hopes that he can reunite with her in the afterlife. The treatment of the narrative is very bold; it often jumps in between reality and dreams, yet manages to pull that off with ease. The visuals are stunning; photographed by Tojo Xavier, they manage to capture the mystical beauty of Garo Hills. The motion picture was praised domestically and abroad. Sangma is currently working on the release of his second project Rapture, which is debuting in Locarno this year.