Jungle Book Studio has acquired international sales rights to “Angh,” a debut feature film by Nagaland-based director Theja Rio. The film is set to premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, where it represents India’s sole entry in the Platform competition category.
The narrative takes place in Nagaland during the early 1960s and explores the relationship between a Konyak village chief and his son as their traditional way of life faces upheaval following the arrival of an American missionary. The story examines the collision between religious conversion and indigenous traditions in a remote mountainous region. Shot on 16mm, the production features Indigenous performers alongside British actor Douglas Henshall, known for his role in the television series “Shetland.”
Rio, a graduate of the National Film and Television School in the United Kingdom, previously created a short film bearing the same title, which earned recognition at the Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival. The feature was produced by Nancy Nisa Beso through Winter Hymns Films and Rio through Undercover Squirrel. Gaurav Dhingra, founder of Jungle Book Studio, serves as executive producer and oversees worldwide distribution efforts for the project.
Both Rio and Beso, who are from Nagaland, have emphasized their commitment to presenting Indigenous narratives through an authentic cultural perspective. This approach aims to distinguish the film from conventional portrayals of regional communities in international cinema.
Originally reported by Variety →
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