The screening of TakeOne Production House’s documentary film of the four Khiamniungan women who are keeping the inherited craft of Naga textile alive, ‘Where Cotton Flowers Grow’, was inaugurated today along with a Mini Exhibition-cum-Sale of authentic indigenous textiles and crafts, at the conference hall of Directorate of Art & Culture, Bayavü Hill, Kohima.

Speaking at the inaugural program, Special Guest Kaisa Rio, lady wife of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, lauded the people involved for their dedication and commitment to preserving the tradition to give the “insights into worlds we may have never known existed” in a time where we are losing our culture and tradition to modernization.

Commending the invaluable work of documenting the untold stories of the four Khiamniungan women she said, “creating a documentary is a labour of love often requiring extensive research dedication and a deep commitment to the subject matter”. She pointed that documentary films hold a unique place in the world of cinema because of the profound story telling impact they are known to create far beyond the theatre or screen.

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She said, “untold stories challenge our perspectives, broaden our horizons and bring forth the human experience in all its complexities in a world where information is constantly at the finger tips with the countless social media distractions which often forces us to forget the path trodden by our ancestors”.  “The simple village folk from Sanglao village in Noklak district is the pleasure and pride being derived in keeping the tradition of their elders alive by making yarn out of cotton the old fashioned way,” she added.

“Cotton is an ancient utility material that has served the timelines of human history and passion till the present date. It simplifies the spirit of simplicity with usefulness by maintaining an element of tradition, culture, environmental consciousness and sustainability therefore, as this documentary illuminates our mind let us be responsive to the necessity of nurturing the practitioners of the art form in supporting and encouraging them to continue this art form so that they can pass on the skills to the younger generation,” Kaisa Rio said.

Yachummaro Cultural Club, Kohima performed a folk song

Emphasising on the importance of preserving and promoting the great Naga heritage, Athel O Lotha, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Art & Culture said, “The Department of Art & Culture preserves and promotes the artistic cultural heritage of the Naga people and ensures that they are projected in its true form”. She also lamented the disappearing of the tradition and cultural practices and said, “only a few elders in isolated pockets still practice the traditional and indigenous way of creating textiles,”

The mini exhibition cum sale constituted exceptional display of authentic indigenous textiles and crafts, the talent, richness and diversity of the local crafts persons. Lotha said that she believed that the screening of the documentary film and holding the mini exhibition cum sale will create awareness for preserving and promoting great heritage.

Director and Producer of “Where Cotton Flowers Grow” Sesino Yhoshü, TakeOne Production House, in her brief introduction of the documentary film shared the experience and their journey to producing the film that started from 2022. She exuded hope that “Where Cotton Flower Grow” will just be a conversation starter and said, “the film is not only about one village but many Naga villages, it is not a story of only four women but of hundreds and thousands of women. It is not only the story of one dying tradition but of many that needs to be told.”

The four women- Mouniu, Musim, Jejon and Jukhing are the central characters of the film. The documentary film ‘Where Cotton Flowers Grow’ is an initiative of Exotic Echo Society produced by TakeOne Production House and financially supported by the Department of Art & Culture with logistical supported from the Noklak District Administration.

Meanwhile, Vitono Gugu Haralu shared the producer’s perspective and Yachummaro Cultural Club, Kohima performed a folk song while Adele Moa, Director Art & Culture delivered the concluding remark. The occasion was compered by Temjenjungla, Asst. Archivist.

A 3 day long Screening Documentary film “WHERE COTTON FLOWERS GROW” and Mini Exhibition-cum-Sale was formally inaugurated by Smti. Kaisa Rio, Lady Wife of Hon’ble CM of Nagaland as the Special Guest on 19th Sept. 2023 at the Conference Hall of the Directorate of Art & Culture. pic.twitter.com/KpluekU8J8

— ArtandCulture (@ArtandCultureNL) September 19, 2023