Priest's movie bags national award for Tripura

An Indian priest's movie on the tribal inhabitants of Tripura has won a national award.

The movie titled 'Yarwng' (Roots) is directed by Salesian Priest Joseph Pulinthanath and is based on real experiences of displaced people.

The 95-minute film won National Award in the category of 'Best Feature Film in languages other than those specified in the Schedule VIII of the Constitution'.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni announced the awards at a press conference on January 23 in New Delhi. The awards will be presented by President Pratibha Patil in March.

Interestingly, this is the first time the northeast Indian state of Tripura has won a national award.

" I feel happy that we have been able to get for Tripura and its people its first National Film Award. I am hopeful we shall see more such awards in future," said Pulinthanath.

He added, "It is a proud day for Kokborok language (Tripura's tribal language) and its speakers."

Released in September 2008, the film has been screened at over 40 international film festival venues across the world, including New York, Stuttgart, Moscow, Brisbane, Dhaka and Taiwan.

The story features the life of displaced tribal inhabitants of Tripura whose life is threatened by a newly constructed dam that uproots the village.

The New York Times has described the movie as "a rare glimpse into tribal India".