A Santhali-language film from Jharkhand has won the Grand Prix at the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival, marking a historic moment for indigenous Indian cinema. ‘The Song of the Forest’, directed by first-time filmmaker Suman Murmu, tells the story of a young Santhal woman’s journey to preserve her community’s oral traditions.
The film, shot entirely in Santhali with a cast of non-professional actors from villages in Dumka district, has been praised by critics for its lyrical cinematography and authentic portrayal of tribal life in eastern India.
Murmu, who grew up in a Santhal village and studied filmmaking on a scholarship at the Film and Television Institute of India, dedicated the award to the indigenous communities of Jharkhand.
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