| TITLE OF THE FILM | Friends of Jilipibala (Jilipibalar Bondhura) |
| DIRECTED BY | Debalina Majumder |
| LANGUAGE | Bengali (English subtitles) |
| YEAR | 2025 |
| COUNTRY | India |
| DURATION | 29 minutes 20 seconds |
PRINCIPAL CREW & CAST
| CINEMATOGRAPHY | Debalina Majumder |
| EDITING | Rafina Khatun |
| LOCATION SOUND | Debalina Majumder |
| SOUND DESIGN & MIXING | Sabyasachi Pal |
| MUSIC | Megh Banerjee |
| PRINCIPAL CAST | Simran Ghosh, Jugal Gomasta |
ABOUT THE FILM
This film follows toddler Jilipibala’s adventures with the creatures of a giant tamarind tree in South Kolkata. As the tree faces threats from urban destruction, Jilipibala and her non-human friends struggle to make sense of the changing soundscape and sights around them.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Debalina Majumder is a Kolkata-based filmmaker, cinematographer, photographer and media producer. A Berlinale Talent and Global Media Makers fellow, her diverse filmography spans documentaries, fiction, and video art. Her films explore themes of queer identity, feminist narratives, and marginalized histories. Notable works include ‘…and the unclaimed’, ‘If You Dare Desire…’, and ‘Gay India Matrimony’.
Debalina’s cinematography, photography, and films have garnered international acclaim, with her work being incorporated into university curricula globally.
Additionally, she founded ‘Tamarind Tunes’, a community initiative that combines music and discourse on history, politics, and contemporary issues, centred around the preservation of a historic tamarind tree.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
For more than twelve years, I’ve been captivated by the majestic tamarind tree in my neighbourhood, watching it thrive amidst urban chaos. But as the city encroaches, the tree’s tranquillity is disrupted by the harsh sounds of progress – the screeching of axes, the felling of branches, and the threat of its very existence hanging in the balance. Through Jilipibala’s innocent eyes, I explore the delicate balance between nature and human activity. As the tree’s fate hangs precariously, I ask: what do we lose when we silence the voices of the natural world?
This film is a love letter to the resilience of life and a warning about the consequences of our actions.
