Sikkim story puts North-East in limelight at Toronto film festival

Toronto, Sept 9: The North-East of India has received a share of spotlight at the 42nd Toronto International Film Festival. The attention on the much-neglected region at the major international festival in North America is thanks to a film made in Sikkim. 'Pahuna: The Little Visitors', directed by Paakhi A. Tyrewala, had its world premiere at the Toronto festival on its opening day on Thursday. The film won the hearts of the discerning Toronto audience for its captivating story of three Nepalese children stranded in Sikkim. The story behind the film is equally fascinating. For one, 'Pahuna' is produced by actor Priyanka Chopra. Secondly, the film is in Nepali, a language its director doesn't speak or understand. Lastly, Priyanka was the 11th producer Tyrewala went to after writing the story 13 years ago. The Mumbai-based Tyrewala, who was born in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, originially wrote the story in English. "I went to 9 or 10 producers with the story and without any success," she told the audience in a Q&A session after the screening of the film in the Special Event section of the festival. "I was charmed by the story and impressed by the story behind the story," Priyanka, who was present at the premiere, said. "Only a woman in India will be crazy enough to make a movie in a language she doesn't speak," she added. The film in Nepali, the major language of Sikkim, tells the story of a family fleeing their home in Nepal to escape from extremists going on a rampage in their village. Their destination is neighbouring Sikkim, but its members get separated as they run. While the parents are forced to stay back in Nepal, their three children reach Sikkim and are left to care for themselves. The film has non-professional actors, who speak their dailogues in Nepali, translated from the original screenplay in English. "These untrained children from a small state acting in a film without ever being exposed to a film set is a testimony to their spirit," said Priyanka. "I wanted the people of North-East to have a voice," said Tyrewala. "The film is a tool to bridge their alienation. The aim of the film is also to show the beauty of the North-East region." 'Pahuna' is the first feature film of Tyrewala. The film is produced by Purple Pebble Pictures, a production house launched by Priyanka and her mother Madhu Chopra two years ago to promote cinema in regions like the North-East. Purple Pebble Pictures has so far produced five films, including two in Marathi and one each in Bhojpuri and Punjabi. 'Pahuna' is the fifth venture from the production house. Its second venture, 'Ventilator' (Marathi) won three National Film Awards, including the Best Director prize for Rajesh Mapuskar last year. Priyanka is also the ambassador of the Toronto festival's campaign to promote women filmmakers. The actor led the TIFF's fundraiser event in Toronto on Wednesday to raise money for the campaign, called Share Her Journey. UNI