DIMAPUR, March 25 � A milestone has been achieved by a Naga woman in the international arena with the selection of an English short film titled Last of the Tattooed Head Hunters for entry in the Cannes Film Festival 2010, a first for the North East region.
The 15-minute film on the Konyak tribe of Nagaland is produced and photographed by Indrajit Narayan Dev of Guwahati and directed by Vikeyeno Zao under the banner Hawksbill Productions. The film was selected in the Short Film Corner Section Category of the Festival.
According to a press handout, the film is the only entry in Cannes Film Festival from the North East India ever. �It has created a landmark for the people of North East India and Nagaland in particular,� says Vikeyeno Zao who is the daughter of Zakunei Zao.
The film is based on the head hunting practices of the Konyak Nagas � and the ritualistic details connected with head hunting. The homes of the Konyaks, their traditions and ancient customs are projected in the film and according to Zao, the principal reason for making the film is to tell the people of the world about the tribe before all their known customs and practices completely disappear.
The synopsis of the film describes the Nagas as a people of Mongoloid stock inhabiting the mountainous region of North East India. It goes on to describe the head-hunting traditions while speaking of the Konyak Nagas as the fiercest practitioners of this �macabre ritual� which was practised till the mid-20th century. This was a part of their survival strategy in a harsh land where they had to fight for their turf with other equally fearsome warrior clans, it says.
Stating that today the Konyaks, like most of the Naga tribes, are Christians, it says that with the advent of modernity into their land the young generation has all but forgotten their past traditions and culture and are forward looking along with the rest of the world. However, it speaks of the political dilemma faced by these �brave and hardy people� today while explaining that in 1972, when the international border between India and Myanmar was demarcated, the border was drawn right through their villages, and even through their homes. �No consideration was given to the rights of the Konyaks to live as one people in one country and today their wish to live as a homogeneous tribe faces an uncertain future.�
It emphasizes that the documentary aims to project the Konyaks in their homeland, their traditions and ancient customs and their plight today and to present to the world the �last tattooed Konyak Naga Tribes before they are gone forever�.
