La Mana (Not Allowed)

About the film

La Mana is a common word in Khasi localities. It lists the things, which are not allowed in public places. Bhartiya uses the phrase as the title of his new short film to start discussions on the much-debated topic, the existential crisis of the hill tribe. Will Khasis, like many other tribes in India, become extinct? Will influx of outsiders and mixed marriages prove apocalyptic for the indigenous people? Is matrilineality a curse in disguise?

Director’s Note

‘I preferred speaking to the common man because I believe it is from them that we can get a clear picture of the society’s mindset,’ the director informs. ‘There is nothing called pure identity anymore . . . The narrow notion of identity has not meted out justice. The young generation has realised it.’ Bhartiya says his daughter’s search for identity made him ponder over the subject of mixed marriage and its impact on the matrilineal society. ‘But at the end of the day, the brouhaha over caste, community and religion may be banal but its reality can’t be denied’, he concludes.

Director Biography

Tarun Bhartiya is a Shillong based Documentary filmmaker, political activist and a poet. His films include, a documentary series Songs to Live By (2015, Govt. of Meghalaya) and The Last Train in Nepal(2015, BBC4, Royal Television Society Award, Best Director 2015). As an editor he has worked on notable films with filmmakers like Vasudha Joshi in Girl Song, 2003; Songlines, 2010, and Cancer Katha (Special Jury Award, National Awards 2012), Red Ant Dream(Editor & Co-Writer, Sanjay Kak, 2014), Jashn-e-Azadi (Sanjay Kak, 2007) and In Camera (Ranjan Palit, 2010, National Award for Best Editing).