‘Semkhor’: Dimasa protests wrong portrayal of community in film.

Guwahati/Halflong: Assam’s National Award-winning film ‘Semkhor’ has been embroiled in a controversy, with members of the Dimasa community alleging that their culture has been misrepresented, with the aim of “causing emotional injury”. Is”.

A tribal leader has filed a complaint against filmmaker Amy Baruah at the Halfling police station, while several local organizations have issued statements condemning the film.
Baroah, who also plays the lead role, maintained that she had clearly stated that it was a work of fiction.

‘Semkhor’, set in local locations of a village that also goes by the same name, is the first film in the Dimasa language.

The 2021 film, which chronicles the life and times of a tribal woman, won Rajat Kamal an award at the 68th National Film Awards, with Baroha also receiving a Special Jury Mention.
The film released commercially last week after garnering praise and appreciation at various national and international film festivals.

Mahendra Kamprai, former president of All Dimasa Students’ Union, said in a recently filed complaint that while the community welcomes its representation on the big screen, the “wrong portrayal” is worrisome.
Camprai alleged that the director did not study the community in depth and used the little information he gathered for commercial gain.

He claimed that the female infanticide depicted in the film was not condoned by the community, and that Dimasa was portrayed in a “bad light”.

The former student leader demanded the removal of “objectionable scenes” from the film after consulting community experts.
The Dimasa Mothers’ Association, in a press statement, also condemned the “false depiction of female infanticide”, claiming that showing the community practicing such evils was “factually wrong” and “unfair”. “was

He claimed that there was no gender discrimination within the community.
The All Dimasa Students’ Union, in a separate statement, described the false portrayal as an “attack on our identity”, aimed at causing emotional injury to our community.

Uttam Langthasa, president of the union, claimed that social evils like female infanticide were never practiced by Dimasa.
Speaking to PTI, Baroh said, “The disclaimer at the beginning of the film clearly mentions it as a work of fiction in the scenario of Dima Hasao. Our aim is to develop the region. It had to be promoted.
“I am ready to face any criticism, but it should be based on facts. Most of those trying to create this controversy have not even visited Semkhor,” he maintained.

The actor-turned-director emphasized that the film is about a woman’s struggle, “which is universal in nature”, and its portrayal would remain the same even if it was set in another village or town. done