(June 09, 2009): A film that has been called a "rare glimpse into tribal India" is
continuing to premiere around the world, with New York's Museum of Modern Art being
its next stop this Friday. Salesian Father Joseph Pulinthanath is the director
of "Yarwng," or “Roots”. The film focuses on India's tribal inhabitants and the indigenous
Kokborok language, revolving around the large-scale displacement that happened in
Tripura, when the newly built Dumbur Dam submerged vast regions of arable land in
the Raima Valley in the late 1970s. Yarwng has already been in 20 international
film festivals within India. In addition to the New York premiere, the film will hit
Australia and Europe in July."Yarwng," released in September 2008, is a 95-minute
film made in the tribal language Kokborok, with English subtitles. Father Pulinthanath's
first film, "Mathia" meaning “The Bangle”, was about the practice of witch hunts,
still prevalent in Tripura.