Welfare Minister Shri Chamra Linda, while inaugurating the “First Dharti Aba Tribal Film Fest 2025” at the Dr. Ram Dayal Munda Tribal Welfare Research Institute in Ranchi on Tuesday, said that this festival is not just a film screening, but a celebration of our tribal identity, traditions, and philosophy of life. Film is a powerful medium that brings the soul of tribal India, its culture, and struggles to the world. The state government is committed to the overall development and cultural preservation of the tribal society. This film festival is being organized under the joint auspices of the Jharkhand Government and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.
Shri Chamra Linda said that whenever a film is made about a person, community, or tribal life, its scenes and narrative should be based on reality – not on fiction or illusion. The responsibility of art and cinema is to bring out the truth of society, so that future generations can recognize their roots in the correct perspective. This initiative will provide a powerful platform for expression to tribal artists and youth, enabling them to present the real stories of their community on national and global stages. Chamra Linda said that the state government’s priority is not only economic development but also the preservation of our culture and linguistic diversity. Such events will act as a bridge to convey our traditions to the new generation.
The objective of the festival is to present the diverse art, culture, traditions, and struggles of the tribal society of the country on a national platform through cinema. On this occasion, tribal filmmakers, researchers, and artists from various states of the country shared the deep concerns of tribal life through their creative expressions.
During the festival, more than 70 films from 15 states including Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal are being screened. These include popular films like “Palash”, “Hende Sona and Black Gold”, “Phoolo”, “Kusum”, “Nachi Se Bachi”, along with several World Premieres and National Premieres.
On this occasion, Secretary of the department Shri Kripa Nand Jha, Director of Ram Dayal Munda Tribal Research Institute Shri Karma Zimba Bhutia, Special Secretary Shri Nelson Bage, and Welfare Commissioner Shri Kuldeep Choudhary, along with other senior officials of the department, were present.