Films and news media tend to glorify conflicts for their own commercial benefits. But on the ground, there is only death and destruction. Women have been historically the worst hit in conflicts and the situation has not changed a bit. The women of the North East too have been bearing the brunt of ethnic violence since decades. The ongoing violence in Manipur is the best example of it.
Assamese film ‘Mirbeen’, which was screened at the 54th IFFI
here in Goa, shows women becoming primary victims of ethnic violence.
“When conflict breaks out, women bear the heaviest burden of
violence as they become the targets of systematic rape and sexual violence,
which is used as a weapon to terrorise and destroy communities. This has been
happening around the world for ages, the North East is no different. This can
be seen in our film Mirbeen as well,” says the film’s writer Manimala Das.
The film’s story revolves around a young woman named
Mirbeen. In her childhood, Mirbeen’s grandmother instills in her the dream of
doing something with the fairy tales of Serdihun (God of textile in Karbi
tribal beliefs), which sprouts the desire to make life meaningful in her mind.
But ethnic conflicts made the entire Karbi land bloody in
2005, where Mirbeen’s small village is also not spared. Political instability
disrupts their daily lives as Mirbeen’s house and village is burnt to ashes.
She loses her only close friend Kaban, who is first sexually
abused and later killed by extremists. The protagonist, Mirbeen also falls victim
to sexual abuse, but manages to survive. Her life becomes dark, yet she doesn’t
want to give up as the story of Serdihun, which her grandmother had instilled
in her mind, inspires her to make her dream come true.
“We have tried to maintain a balance between despair and
hope. The story follows the life of Mirbeen, as she fiercely holds on to her
dream in the face of relentless adversity. In her struggle, she becomes the
embodiment of the Karbi people reflecting their pain and their dauntless
spirit,” Das says.
She said that being a woman who has grown up amidst strife
in her backyard, Das says it was easier for her to understand the anguish of
her people and give their trauma a voice through the film.
“I have been through such situations in the past. I have
grown up in the backdrop of conflict between militant groups and the army.
These incidents have left a deep imprint in mind. What is happening in Manipur
today, exactly similar situation was prevalent in Assam some years ago,” she
says.
She however felt that the film could have delved deeper into
the issue of human conflict, but it wasn’t possible due to the Covid
restrictions in place.
When asked about how to end the social strife in the North
East, the film writer said that along with the government providing work
opportunities (as shown in the movie), the young generation should also decide
where they want to go and what their purpose in life is.
“They have to realise that guns are not a solution to any
problem. It only brings a never ending cycle of destruction and more despair,”
she says.
The Karbi feature film has been directed by Mridul Gupta and
produced by Dhaniram Tisso.