Rima Das on 'Village Rockstars 2' Delay and the Fight for Northeast Cinema
Assamese filmmaker Rima Das opens up about the delayed release of 'Village Rockstars 2', her approach to filming children and nature, and the need for better support systems for Northeast cinema.
Acclaimed Assamese filmmaker Rima Das has spoken about the protracted wait for the theatrical release of her film Village Rockstars 2, the follow-up to her widely celebrated 2017 feature. The sequel's journey to the big screen has been delayed, underscoring the broader difficulties that independent films — particularly those from the Northeast — face in reaching audiences.
Das, whose work is known for its intimate, unhurried gaze, reflected on her practice of casting children and drawing on the natural world around her. These elements have become signatures of her storytelling, lending her films a distinctive texture that has earned recognition beyond the region.
Beyond the specifics of the sequel, the filmmaker pointed to a structural gap: the absence of a robust ecosystem to support cinema emerging from the Northeast. She argued that a better system — spanning exhibition, distribution and institutional backing — is needed for such films to find their footing.
Her comments place the challenges of independent filmmaking in India in sharp relief, where access to screens and sustained support often determines whether a film reaches the viewers it was made for.