Sumi Naga folklore shines at Imphal film festival

Imphal: The Tribal Frames 2026 national film festival in Imphal showcased the oral traditions of the Sumi Naga community. The 20-minute fiction film, Kashopapu, took center stage. It highlights ancient wisdom and environmental balance.

Director Vito Sumi crafted a narrative focused on community justice. The plot follows a man named Kasho. He waits for a sacred bird’s call before sowing his crops. While neighbors rushed to plant, Kasho followed traditional ecological knowledge. His patience brought a massive harvest to the village.

Greed eventually threatened his land. Years later, neighbors tried to seize his property. The sacred bird intervened to secure his rights. The film treats indigenous folklore as a vital repository of cultural memory and ethics. "Kashopapu explores greed, fairness and environmental responsibility," noted the festival organizers.

Vito Sumi, a mass communication graduate and co-founder of R&N Studios, focuses his lens on Naga life. His previous 2022 documentary, Sound From The Hollow Bamboo, earned the Best Director award at the North East Film Festival in Mumbai. It also landed a Special Jury Mention at the Samvaad Tribal Conclave. Festival attendees praised the work for bringing regional heritage to a national audience.