Rima Das on 'Village Rockstars 2' and the State of Independent Cinema
The acclaimed Assamese filmmaker Rima Das has opened up about the delayed theatrical release of 'Village Rockstars 2', a sequel to her 2017 coming-of-age drama. The film, which premiered at the 29th Busan International Film Festival in October 2024, was released in Assam on March 6 this year after a limited theatrical release.
Das attributed the delay to multiple factors, including the accidental death of singer Zubeen Garg last September. 'He is a hearthrob and his death changed everything. Everyone was grieving in Assam. It affected us greatly,' Das said.
Das had initially planned to release the film in other cities as well, but ultimately decided against it due to a lack of energy. 'I did it because I was really tired,' she said. 'I also love to visit theatres, meet people and celebrate the film with them. That's when I thought I should take the film to other cities too. But I just don't have the energy now to do it all over again.'
Challenges of Releasing Independent Films
Das spoke about the challenges of releasing independent films, particularly in the Northeast region. 'I don't know how everyone is raising funds and taking individual journeys. We need State support to tell these stories from our region,' she said.
Das noted that the Northeast region cannot be put under one umbrella, as it is a big region with different industries and conditions. 'Only Assam has an industry, which is also not well established. Most people in the industry are working for less income, making movies without knowing what's going to happen to them. The condition is worse in other States with negligible theatres.'
Importance of Supporting Independent Cinema
Das emphasized the importance of supporting independent cinema, particularly in the Northeast region. 'We just need consistent effort. There's a lot of talk but little reflects on ground level due to which an entire community of filmmakers are facing problems,' she said.
Das urged film enthusiasts, filmmakers, and authorities to come together and work towards building a better platform to support independent movies. 'If you need good films, paintings or books, it is everyone's responsibility to turn that into reality,' she said.
Village Rockstars 2 is currently running in select cities.
