Independent filmmaker Rima Das’ Village Rockstars has been selected as India’s official entry to the Oscars. In a chat with BT, she talks about the challenges that lie ahead
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; September 23, 2018)

Independent filmmaker Rima Das has hit bulls-eye with her coming-of-age film, Village Rockstars. After impressing the National Award jury earlier this year, and bagging top honours, including the National Award for the Best Film, the Assamese film has been selected as India’s official entry to the Oscars which will be held early next year. The film beat 27 contenders, comprising Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Gujarati films, to make its way to the top. The filmmaker has travelled with the film globally on her own steam. She produced, directed and shot it by herself with the help of one camera, one light and featured two children Bhanita and Manabendra Das from her village in Assam. Rima Das, who is currently in Assam, is elated with this news, but in a chat with BT, she says that taking this film all the way to the Oscars will be no mean feat. Excerpts…

The National Award put the spotlight on your film that had only been seen at festivals before that. And now, Village Rockstars will represent India at the Oscars. Would you say that you’ve had a dream run?
It’s a dream come true that the film has been unanimously selected to represent India at the Oscars. When I entered it for the Oscar selection, I was somewhere expecting that it will make the cut. I’m so happy that I got what I expected. The news came to me when I was at my village in Assam where I shot the film. Life has come a full circle. The children who have worked in the film are jumping with joy, although I am not sure how well they understand the gravity of the situation. It’s a huge task and responsibility to represent the country on a global platform like the Academy Awards. I don’t know how I will do it, because it needs a lot of money to promote the film and reach out to the right people at the right juncture. The film needs to get maximum visibility and a fair chance to surge ahead in the competition.

What’s the plan then?
I don’t know what will happen now. I will reach Mumbai on Monday and immediately start work on chalking out a plan for promoting the film in the US. Money is a huge constraint and I will address that with the Film Federation of India and whichever other bodies that I need to reach out to. As an individual, it will be very difficult for me to gather so much money on my own. I will need help and I will ask for it as openly as I can. I am an independent filmmaker. My journey with this film began five years ago. I have made it with my own money and travelled with it all over the world. Now that it’s gearing up to represent India, the country needs to step forth and help it get there.

In our last conversation, you underlined the fact that no studio, despite a National Award, was willing to back your film and give it a theatrical release. How do you plan to release the film now, given that it’s an important criterion for a film running for an Oscar?
Even before that article, I had been speaking to people, and after the article, a cinema chain partnered with me to release the film in seven cities in India and I will release it independently in Assam. The chain has a plan in place and the film will finally release in the country. I wish it had happened earlier. A film running for the Oscars has to have released in the country of origin on or before September 30. Thankfully, Village Rockstars releases on September 28. Since the film has been a part of the festival circuit for some time now, it has already been seen by many people, but the theatrical release will only help it grab more eyeballs. The class audience has seen it and appreciated it and I hope the mass audience will also like it as much.

There were 27 other films in the race for India’s entry to the Oscars, including some popular mainstream Hindi films. Almost every year, a controversy erupts over the choice of film being sent to the Oscars. So far, there hasn’t been any hue and cry about this year’s choice...
(Cuts in…) You know something? I am used to such talks. It happened when my film won the National Award this year. I am only grateful that my work was appreciated by the jury at the National Award and the Film Federation of India (FFI) Selection Committee. The number might be low, but even the aam junta who had seen the film didn’t question the selection. Yes, there are more people who are not aware and they might think that it is a vague choice. After my film won the National Award, several people told me that they would be interested in helping me release it nationally, but no one came forth when it was time to act on their words. Even now, everyone is saying great things. I hope they will stick to their words and help me out. Empty words hold no meaning. People can say anything they want about a selection, but what matters to me is that there are so many young boys and girls who love independent cinema and are willing to give such films a chance.



OTHER FILMS THAT WERE IN CONTENTION FOR THE OFFICIAL ENTRY

Hichki
October
Love Sonia
To Let
Halkaa
Pihu
Kadvi Hawa
Tumbaad
Manto
102 Not Out
Gulabjaam
Mahanati
Aa Karaala Ratri
Bogda
Rangasthalam
Reva
Mai Gayatri Jadhav
Bioscopewala
Best Of Luck Laalu
Kolamavu Kokila
Bhayanakam
Ajji
Nude
Gali Guleiyan