Tripura creates history at the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival with two feature films — Porobashi and Khaani — selected for screening, showcasing the state’s rich culture, rare languages, and emerging cinematic talent on India’s national film stage.
Tripura’s cinematic evolution, two full-length feature films from the northeastern state have been officially selected for screening at the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), marking a historic first for the region’s growing film fraternity. This dual selection not only underscores the cultural and linguistic diversity of Tripura but also signals the emergence of a powerful new creative voice from India’s northeast on the national stage.
The festival, one of India’s most prestigious cinematic events, will host “Porobashi” and “Khaani” — two films that are both rooted deeply in Tripura’s identity, history, and linguistic tapestry.
Two Films, One Historic Stage
On November 7, 2025, Porobashi, directed by Monet Roy Saha, will be screened at Nandan 2 under the Linguistic Diversity category. The following day, November 8, Khaani, directed by Ploto Debbarma, will be showcased at Prachi Cinema in the Unheard India: Rare Language Films section, followed by a second screening on November 9 at Rabindra Okakura Bhavan.
Both films reflect Tripura’s unique blend of heritage, displacement, and linguistic variety — with their directors representing two distinct yet equally inspiring paths into the world of filmmaking.
Monet Roy Saha: Sculptor Turned Filmmaker
Monet Roy Saha’s cinematic journey began far from the camera lens — in the sculpting studios of Rabindra Bharati University, where he studied fine arts before graduating from the Pune Film Institute. Son of renowned sculptors Bipul Kanti Saha and Dipika Saha, Monet later taught at Delhi University’s College of Art, before shifting his creative focus to filmmaking.
Over the years, he has directed several acclaimed short films and ad projects, including a tourism film for Japan. With Porobashi, Monet delivers his first full-length feature — a 108-minute drama that traces the life of a retired schoolteacher who migrated from Bangladesh to Tripura in 1965.
The film explores themes of exile, nostalgia, and identity, culminating in a symbolic journey back to the borderlands — a haunting reminder of lost roots and emotional displacement. Shot across Tripura and Kamarpukur in West Bengal, the film captures the delicate interplay between memory and belonging. Produced by Anil Chandra Debnath, Porobashi stands as a poignant tribute to those “who remain unseen and unacknowledged in the folds of history,” as Monet aptly describes.
Ploto Debbarma: Doctor with a Cinematic Dream
Unlike Monet, Ploto Debbarma came to filmmaking from a completely different world — medicine. A graduate of Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Ayurvedic College, Ploto worked as a physician before discovering his passion for cinema. Without formal training, he learned the craft hands-on under the informal mentorship of filmmaker Debarati Gupta.
Ploto went on to create several short films such as Graviva of Dreams, Love and Achar, and Samthiyo Family, which found recognition at film festivals in Brahmaputra, Manipur, and Mumbai.
His debut feature, Khaani, is a comedy-thriller set in a fictional tribal village called Khumpuimora, centered on the Tiprasa community. The story unfolds around a deserted police station and the mysterious discovery of human remains — a gripping narrative blending suspense, folklore, and local humor.
Despite the challenges of minimal film infrastructure in Tripura, Ploto completed Khaani on a shoestring budget of Rs 1–10 lakh, with post-production assistance from Monet in Kolkata. “It feels like I was playing cricket in my neighborhood and suddenly found myself at Lord’s,” Ploto said, capturing the magnitude of the moment.
A Shared Triumph for Tripura’s Cinema
While Monet’s journey was defined by academic discipline and artistic lineage, Ploto’s path was built on improvisation and passion. Yet both filmmakers share a deep love for Tripura’s people and landscape — a love vividly reflected in their films.
Khaani was shot entirely across South-West Tripura, Sepahijala, and Gomati, while Porobashi features extensive scenes from the state’s border regions, reinforcing the authenticity of their visual storytelling.
Their inclusion in KIFF’s 31st edition is more than a personal milestone — it represents a historic leap for Tripura’s film culture. It marks the state’s arrival on a platform long dominated by mainstream and metropolitan narratives, and celebrates voices that speak in rare tongues yet echo universal human emotions.
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As the Kolkata International Film Festival opens its screens to Porobashi and Khaani, Tripura steps confidently into the national cinematic spotlight — its stories, languages, and dreams now part of India’s larger cultural conversation.
