Imphal: Two-time National Award-winning filmmaker Bobby Sarma Baruah’s Tiwa-language feature, Sikaisal (If Only Trees Could Talk), received acclaim at the Tribal Frame 2026 National Tribal Film Festival in Manipur following its screening on November 13.
The 104-minute fiction film from Assam portrays the struggle of a dedicated teacher trying to bring education to a remote indigenous community. Set in West Karbi Anglong, the story follows Maheshwar Patar, whose dream of uplifting his people through literacy is tested when the school he fought to build remains empty.
Festival organisers and attendees said the film moves beyond simplistic tropes to examine the harsh realities of geographical isolation and social resistance. Through Patar’s perseverance, the screenplay explores the emotional weight of unfulfilled expectations and the structural barriers to rural education in Northeast India.
Critics said the presentation of a Tiwa-language story on a national platform in Manipur demonstrates the role of regional cinema in preserving cultural identity and encouraging social reflection.
Bobby Sarma Baruah, a PhD holder from Gauhati University and a Ministry of Culture Senior Fellow, has long promoted narratives from Northeast India on international platforms, including Cannes, Venice and IFFI.
With Sikaisal, she turns the focus once again to the struggles of overlooked indigenous communities, prompting audiences to consider the power of hope even when institutions remain empty.