| The Wild Meat Trail is our latest production. Its part of a series of films we are doing in the northeast of India. The film is a result of more than 6 years of extensive travel in the region. One of our most memorable time there was spent in the village of Rachi. People here have banned hunting for three years. We trekked into the community forest with a group of Nishi tribes men from the Village… It took us almost 8 hrs to reach the camp site – walking up and down steep hills, crossing river, walking on all fours through really thick foliage …It was fascinating to observe these guys…their ease with the forest…climbing trees, giving details of the plants and fruits in the jungle, animal sound and movement, setting up fires for tea and meals….all they needed in the forest was a ‘dau’. In the village we stayed with a Nishi family. The houses are on stilts and long. The length depends on the size of the family. Nishis are polygamous – so more number of wives means a longer house. Each unit has a hearth – around which all the activites happen – from cooking, drying meat, talking, singing and sleeping! Our hut had four hearths and the house was about 60 ft long. In the short time spent there we really got close to eveyone – visited almost every house.In some ways the camera is a great tool – in the beginning it maybe intimidating, but then people really open up – everyone wanted family pictures. It is a beautiful village – a river runs through it, its surrounded by hills, each house is a bit apart from each other , there are some terraced fields for cultivation. In the beginning of next year we are conducting a video training workshop there as people were keen to learn the vido camera. We feel it maybe a good way to keep the dialogue continued on conservation of their natural resources… |
