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Hyderabad, Nov 21 (IANS) Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma said cultural and social narratives of the Northeast are often under-represented in mainstream cinema and should get wider visibility.
The Governor on Friday inaugurated a film festival as part of the Telangana-North East Connect Festival, which highlights cultural cooperation between Telangana and the northeastern states.
The Governor, who hails from Tripura, attended the inaugural screening of the Tripura film ‘Yarwing’ directed by National Award winner Father Joseph.
He said the Northeast has a vibrant and emerging film ecosystem, where filmmakers from Tripura, Manipur, Assam and other states are consistently receiving national honors for their distinctive storytelling.
The Governor called upon filmmakers from both the regions to use the festival as an opportunity for cross-learning, co-production, technical collaboration and creative experimentation.
He described Telangana-North East Connect as a comprehensive engagement platform beyond cultural festivals.
He said that this initiative enables meaningful interactions in various fields like culture, healthcare, information technology, women empowerment, creative arts and youth participation.
He emphasized that the diversity of the North-Eastern states, coupled with the dynamism of Telangana, creates fertile ground for continued collaboration and mutual learning.
Reflecting on the impact of cinema, he said that films transcend language, borders and geography and are one of the most powerful mediums of communication.
Governor Verma said that Telugu cinema enjoys remarkable popularity across the North-East and is widely watched even in remote tribal communities through digital platforms. It demonstrates cinema’s ability to advance understanding, break boundaries and strengthen national unity, he said.
He further said that the film festival acts as an incubator of ideas and innovation, enabling filmmakers to share expertise, exchange techniques and explore new forms of cinematic expression.
He encouraged the delegates to take back meaningful insights, build long-term partnerships and contribute to strengthening cultural ties between the North-Eastern states and Telangana, one of the fastest growing states of India, with Hyderabad emerging as a major hub of creativity, diversity and multicultural engagement.
The festival also includes screening of notable films including Tara (Sikkim Nepali), Kuki (Hindi), Onatah (Khasi, Meghalaya), Eikhoigi Yam (Manipur), Raid Ya Pakhi (Assam) as well as acclaimed Telugu films produced by Telangana Film Development Corporation.
CH Priyanka, commissioner of the information and public relations department and managing director of Telangana Film Development Corporation (TGFDC), said 12 films representing Tripura, Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Telangana would be shown.
Roads and Buildings and Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy, Sports and Youth Services Minister Vakathi Srihari, Principal Secretary Dana Kishore, Telangana Film Development Corporation Chairman Dil Raju and filmmakers and representatives of all the eight north-eastern states were present at the event.
–IANS
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